German Conversation · Level 174
29 words
German word
verkehren
Pronunciation
IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈkeːɐ̯ən/
Meaning
- verbtravel back and forth
Example
Zwischen den Dörfern verkehren täglich Busse.
Buses travel back and forth between the villages every day.
More examples
Viele Künstler verkehren häufig in literarischen Zirkeln.
Many artists frequently move in literary circles.
Core concept
A regular flow moves back and forth between places, while people can also move within a social circle.
Common phrases
in gehobenen Kreisen verkehren
move in high society
mit Intellektuellen verkehren
associate with intellectuals
Similar words
treffen: Meet another person, often by arrangement.
Kontakt haben: Maintain contact or social relations with someone.
besuchen: Go to a person or place for a visit.
pendeln: Travel regularly back and forth along the same route.
Definition in German
mit Personen Umgang haben; sich häufig in bestimmten Kreisen aufhalten; außerdem zwischen Orten hin und her verkehren, besonders bei Verkehrsmitteln.
Word origin
Verkehren is formed with ver- from kehren, meaning 'turn', and its movement sense developed into meanings for transport and social association.
Usage tips
- For transport, verkehren commonly appears with zwischen plus dative, as in zwischen den Dörfern verkehren; for association, it takes mit plus dative.