Did you know that there are only 200 irregular verbs in German? Today, we’re going to tackle irregular German verbs. But don’t worry: I’ve developed a simple technique to help you master them quickly and efficiently.

Grouping Irregular German Verbs by Vowel Change Patterns

Irregular verbs are not as irregular as you might think. Most of them follow patterns that make them easier to learn. There are 5 main groups of irregular verbs, based on common vowel-change patterns in the simple past tense. And to make things even easier, several irregular German verbs follow the same vowel change patterns as their English counterparts. In English, we have sing, sang sung. And in German, it’s singen, sang, gesungen. Not too difficult, right? The 5 main vowel changes are:

1. a → u
2. i → a
3. e → a
4. ie → o
5. ei → ie

Group 1: The a → u Pattern

These verbs show a vowel change from “a” in the infinitive to “u” in the simple past. The past participle forms don’t change vowels. Let me show you what I mean.

Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle	Meaning
fahren	fuhr	gefahren	to drive
graben	grub	gegraben	to dig
laden	lud	geladen	to load
schlagen	schlug	geschlagen	to hit
tragen	trug	getragen	to carry/wear
wachsen	wuchs	gewachsen	to grow
waschen	wusch	gewaschen	to wash

Group 2: The i → a Pattern

These verbs change the stem vowel from “i” in the infinitive to “a” in the simple past. The past participles vary and some verbs have consonant changes. 

Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle	Meaning
singen	sang	gesungen	to sing
binden	band	gebunden	to tie
bitten	bat	gebeten	to request/ask
bringen	brachte	gebracht	to bring
finden	fand	gefunden	to find
gewinnen	gewann	gewonnen	to win
klingen	klang	geklungen	to sound
schwimmen	schwamm	geschwommen	to swim
schwingen	schwang	geschwungen	to swing
singen	sang	gesungen	to sing
sinken	sank	gesunken	to sink
sitzen	saß	gesessen	to sit
springen	sprang	gesprungen	to jump
stinken	stank	gestunken	to stink

Group 3: The e → a Pattern

Here the vowel “e” in the infinitive shifts to “a” in the simple past.

Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle	Meaning
befehlen	befahl	befohlen	To command
brechen	brach	gebrochen	To break
brennen	brannte	gebrannt	To burn
denken	dachte	gedacht	To think
empfehlen	empfahl	empfohlen	To recommend
essen	aß	gegessen	to eat
geben	gab	gegeben	To give
gelten	galt	gegolten	To be valid
geschehen	geschah	geschehen	To happen
helfen	half	geholfen	To help
kennen	kannte	gekannt	To know
lesen	las	gelesen	to read
messen	maß	gemessen	To measure
nehmen	nahm	genommen	To take
nennen	nannte	genannt	To name
rennen	rannte	gerannt	To run
sehen	sah	gesehen	To see
senden	sandte	gesandt	To send
sprechen	sprach	gesprochen	To speak
stehen	stand	gestanden	To stand
stehlen	stahl	gestohlen	To steal

Group 1: The ie → o Pattern

These verbs show a vowel change from “ie” in the infinitive to “o” in the simple past and also in the past participles.

Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle	Meaning
biegen	bog	gebogen	To turn
bieten	bot	geboten	To offer
fliegen	flog	geflogen	To fly
fliehen	floh	geflohen	To flee
fließen	floss	geflossen	To flow
frieren	fror	gefroren	To freeze
genießen	genoss	genossen	to enjoy
gießen	goss	gegossen	To water/pour
kriechen	kroch	gekrochen	To crawl

Group 5. ei → ie Pattern

These irregular German verbs show a vowel change from “ei” in the infinitive to “ie” in the simple past and also in the past participles.

Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle	Meaning
bleiben	blieb	geblieben	To stay
leihen	lieh	geliehen	To lend
reiben	rieb	gerieben	To rub
scheiden	schied	geschieden	To separate
scheinen	schien	geschienen	To seem
schreiben	schrieb	geschrieben	To write
schreien	schrie	geschrie(e)n	to yell
steigen	stieg	gestiegen	To climb/rise
treiben	trieb	getrieben	To urge
vermeiden	vermied	vermieden	To avoid
verzeihen	verzieh	verziehen	To forgive

There are still a few irregular German verbs that change forms in different ways. But by learning these 5 main vowel changes, you can memorize a majority of the irregular verbs much faster and easier. Practice makes perfect so remember to use irregular German verbs on a regular basis to become familiar with them. Next, check out these irregular German verbs examples and practice exercises.