meinen
to mean, to think (express an opinion)
- "Meinen" is used to express someone's opinion or viewpoint, as well as to convey what someone means by their words.
- It is a regular verb and is conjugated like other -en verbs in German.
- Typical contexts include sharing opinions, stating beliefs, or clarifying intended meaning in conversation.
The main meanings of 'meinen' are 'to mean' and 'to think' (when expressing an opinion).
Conjugation
meinen is a regular -en verb. Here is its present tense conjugation:
| Person | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ich | meine | Ich meine, das ist richtig. (I think that is correct.) |
| du | meinst | Meinst du das ernst? (Do you mean that seriously?) |
| er/sie/es | meint | Er meint, wir sollten gehen. (He thinks we should go.) |
| wir | meinen | Wir meinen, das ist fair. (We think that is fair.) |
| ihr | meint | Ihr meint es gut. (You all mean well.) |
| sie/Sie | meinen | Sie meinen, wir haben Recht. (They think we are right.) |
For 'du' it's 'meinst', and for 'er/sie/es' it's 'meint'.
Usage
- Expressing opinions:
- Ich meine, das ist eine gute Idee.
- (I think/opinion that is a good idea.)
- Giving intended meaning:
- Was meinst du damit?
- (What do you mean by that?)
- Clarifying belief or thought:
- Er meint, dass es bald regnen wird.
- (He thinks that it will rain soon.)
- In reported speech:
- Sie meint, wir sollten pünktlich sein.
- (She thinks we should be punctual.)
'meinen' is used for opinions, thoughts, beliefs, and clarifications about meaning.
Example Sentences
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich meine, das ist falsch. | I think that is wrong. |
| Meinst du, wir schaffen das? | Do you think we can do it? |
| Was meint er damit? | What does he mean by that? |
| Wir meinen, dass das passt. | We think that fits. |
| Habt ihr das richtig gemeint? | Did you mean that correctly? |
'meinen' is used to express opinion, intended meaning, or thought.
Conclusion
German verb meinen is essential for expressing opinions and intended meanings in conversation.
- It means "to mean" or "to think" (when giving an opinion).
- Used for sharing viewpoints, interpreting meanings, and stating beliefs.
- Regular -en verb: ich meine, du meinst, er/sie/es meint...
'meinen' expresses opinions or meanings, not physical actions.
'meinen' is used to express opinions or clarify meanings, not for suggestions or descriptions of seeing.