German word

reinigen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʁaɪ̯nɪgən/

Meaning

  • verbclean

Example

Ich reinige das Zimmer.

I clean the room.

Illustration for reinigen (clean)

More examples

Am Ende musst du den Boden reinigen.

At the end, you have to clean the floor.

Core concept

A dirty surface or object passes through a deliberate cleaning process until unwanted material is gone.

Common phrases

  • reinigen den Boden

    clean the floor

  • reinigen die Fenster

    clean the windows

Similar words

putzen: Everyday household cleaning done by wiping or scrubbing furniture and indoor surfaces.
sauber machen: Removing visible dirt or rubbish to leave a surface or object clean.
aufräumen: Restoring order to a cluttered room by putting items where they belong.
waschen: Removing dirt from clothes or dishes with water and detergent.

Definition in German

Schmutz oder Fremdstoffe von etwas entfernen und es sauber machen (transitives Verb).

Word origin

The verb reinigen developed from 'rein' ('clean, pure') plus '-igen', while 'rein' continues an Old High German word meaning 'pure' or 'clean'.

Usage tips

  • For ordinary room cleaning, 'putzen' or 'sauber machen' is often more natural, while 'reinigen' is common in formal and technical contexts.

Other meanings

  • washverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Reinigungcleaningnoun
  • Reinigercleanernoun
  • reinlichcleanadjective

Word lists with this word