In German, denken and glauben both relate to mental activity but differ in meaning and usage, much like “think” and “believe” in English. Here’s how to use each verb appropriately, with examples.
Meaning and Usage
denken — means “to think” and refers to the act of considering, reflecting, or having an opinion. It’s used for:
- Expressing a thought or opinion
- Indicating mental activity or reflection
- Talking about something one has in mind
glauben — means “to believe” and refers to accepting something as true, often without complete proof. It’s used for:
- Expressing belief or conviction
- Giving one’s honest guess or impression
- Talking about faith or trust in something or someone
Word Order and Sentence Structure
Subordinating Conjunctions
Both denken and glauben follow regular German word order rules for main clauses and subordinate clauses.
- In main clauses, the verb is in the second position:
- Ich denke, dass...
- Ich glaube, dass...
- In subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like dass (that) or ob (whether), the verb moves to the end:
- ..., dass er kommt.
- ..., ob sie kommt.
Usage with “dass” and “ob”
- Both verbs commonly introduce indirect statements or questions using dass (that) or ob (whether):
- Ich denke, dass er recht hat.
- Ich glaube, dass sie kommt.
- Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt. (not using denken or glauben, just example)
Examples and Idioms
Thinking (denken)
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich denke oft an dich. | I think about you often. |
| Was denkst du über das neue Projekt? | What do you think about the new project? |
| Ich denke, dass wir bald fertig sind. | I think that we’ll be done soon. |
Believing (glauben)
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich glaube dir. | I believe you. |
| Glaubst du an Geister? | Do you believe in ghosts? |
| Ich glaube, dass er zu spät kommt. | I believe that he’ll be late. |
| Ich glaube nicht, dass das stimmt. | I don’t believe that’s true. |
Common Contexts
- denken is more about your own opinion or mental process:
- Ich denke, wir sollten gehen. (I think we should go.)
- glauben is more about trust or accepting something as true:
- Ich glaube, wir sind verloren. (I believe we are lost.)
Summary: Key Differences
- Use denken when you are expressing a thought, opinion, or doing mental reflection.
- Use glauben when you are expressing belief, trust, or making a guess about truth.
- Both can introduce clauses with dass, but the nuance changes:
- Ich denke, dass... = I think that...
- Ich glaube, dass... = I believe that...
- Neither verb is followed by the nominative case; the subject remains the same before and after dass.
- Both verbs require the verb at the end of the subordinate clause, following German grammar rules.
Which verb fits: ___ bitte die Tür zu! (Please close the door!)
Mach
'Mach bitte die Tür zu!' is the correct imperative form. 'Tun' would not be used here.
Practice: Which verb fits?
- _ du, dass es heute regnet? (Think or believe?)
- Ich _ an dich. (Think or believe?)
- Wir _, dass das eine gute Idee ist. (Think or believe?)
- _ ihr an Wunder? (Think or believe?)
Answers:
- Glaubst / Denkst (Both possible; glaubst is more common)
- denke
- glauben (both possible, but glauben is more common for “believe that”)
- Glaubt
Final Tip: You can often choose between denken and glauben, but the nuance changes. When in doubt, think about whether it’s a matter of opinion/thought (denken) or belief/trust (glauben).
Complete the sentence: Das ___ mir weh. (That hurts me.)
tut
'Das tut mir weh' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'That hurts me.' Tun is used here, not machen.
Flashcards (1 of 7)
- English Example: I think about you often.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
