German word

spielen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃpiːlən/

Meaning

  • verbplay

Example

Die Kinder spielen im Garten.

The children are playing in the garden.

Illustration for spielen (play)

More examples

Am Wochenende spielen wir im Park Fußball.

At the weekend, we play football in the park.

Core concept

A person engages freely with people, objects, music, or a role, with the activity serving enjoyment or performance.

Common phrases

  • Fußball spielen

    play football

  • Klavier spielen

    play the piano

  • im Team spielen

    play on a team

Similar words

mitspielen: Join in a game that other people are already playing.
mitmachen: Participate in an activity or game together with others.
toben: Romp energetically by running around, shouting, or wrestling.
sich amüsieren: Have fun and spend time pleasantly.

Definition in German

Mit Personen, Gegenständen oder Instrumenten interagieren, meist zum Vergnügen oder zur Darstellung.

Word origin

Spielen descends from Old High German spilōn through Middle High German spiln and is related to the noun Spiel.

Usage tips

  • For playing with a person or object, German uses mit plus the dative, as in mit den Kindern or mit einem Ball spielen.

Other meanings

  • performverb
  • actverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Spielgamenoun
  • der Spielerplayernoun
  • spielerischplayfuladjective

Word lists with this word