In German, the verbs holen and bringen express opposite directions of movement and are used to describe when someone retrieves or delivers something.
- Holen: to fetch, to get — the person brings something toward the speaker (or the speaker’s location).
- Bringen: to bring — the person takes something away toward someone else (or the destination).
| Verb | Meaning | Core Idea | Example (to drink a coffee) |
|---|---|---|---|
| holen | to fetch, to get | Bring something to “us” | Ich hole einen Kaffee. <br> (I’ll fetch a coffee [for us].) |
| bringen | to bring (deliver) | Take something to “them” | Ich bringe dir einen Kaffee. <br> (I’ll bring you a coffee [there].) |
'holen' means to fetch — bringing something toward the speaker.
'bringen' is used when you bring/deliver something to someone else.
Usage of Holen
Holen is used when someone fetches or retrieves something, bringing it to the location of the speaker (or the group the speaker belongs to). It implies movement toward the speaker’s side.
- The object/service moves from “there” to “here.”
- Common in contexts of getting something from another room, place, or person.
Examples of Holen
- Ich hole das Buch.
I’ll fetch the book (and bring it here).
- Kannst du Milch holen?
Can you get some milk? (and bring it here)
- Wir holen unsere Kinder von der Schule.
We pick up/ fetch our children from school.
'holen' is used when you fetch something toward the speaker.
Use 'holen' when fetching/getting something and bringing it to the speaker's location.
Usage of Bringen
Bringen is used when someone brings or delivers something to another person or place—moving it away from the speaker (or their group).
- The object/service moves from “here” to “there.”
- Often used for delivery, service, or when inviting someone to bring something to another location.
Examples of Bringen
- Ich bringe dir den Kaffee.
I’ll bring you the coffee (to your place/side).
- Bringst du mir die Rechnung?
Will you bring me the bill? (to where I am)
- Er bringt die Dokumente ins Büro.
He brings the documents to the office.
'bringen' means to bring or deliver (moving something away from the speaker).
'bringen' is used when you bring/ deliver something to another person or place.
Use 'bringen' when taking or bringing something to someone else.
Simple Tests
| German | Use holen or bringen? | Correct Answer | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Du _ das Glas. (to me) | holen | holst | You fetch the glass (to me/us). |
| Du _ das Glas. (to him) | bringen | bringst | You bring the glass (to him). |
| Wir _ Zucker vom Keller. | holen | holen | We fetch sugar from the basement. |
| Wir _ Zucker zum Tisch. | bringen | bringen | We bring sugar to the table. |
| Er _ den Mantel. (home) | holt | holt | He fetches the coat (home). |
| Er _ den Mantel. (out) | bringt | bringt | He brings the coat (out). |
Conclusion
Holen and bringen are complementary verbs expressing travel of objects in opposite directions: holen (to fetch) moves things toward the speaker, while bringen (to bring) moves them away.
- Holen: Use when fetching something “to here” (von dort nach hier).
- Bringen: Use when delivering or taking something “to there” (von hier nach dort).
- Paying attention to the direction of movement will help you use these verbs correctly in context.
'holen' expresses bringing something toward the speaker.
Use 'bringen' when you take something to someone else.