Denken vs Glauben – To Think vs To Believe
In German, denken and glauben carve out different shades between what you consider likely, what you hold as true, and what you literally recall or intend. This guide splits them up with clear examples so you can pick the right verb for nuance.
Denken
Use denken when you talk about mental processes like holding an opinion, recalling something, or planning; it often points to more deliberate or concrete thought.
Denken: Basic Uses
Denken appears when you reflect, remember, or intend, and you can pair it with an infinitive or talk about a specific thought.
Denken: Examples
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🧑🎓 Ich denke über das Experiment nach. | I am thinking about the experiment. | Reflecting on data |
| 📰 Die Zeitung denkt, der Trend ist klar. | The newspaper thinks the trend is clear. | Expressing opinion |
| 🧠 Wir denken, dass mehr Tests nötig sind. | We think that more tests are necessary. | Tentative conclusion |
Denken: Expressions
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 💡 Darauf bin ich noch nicht gekommen. | I haven’t thought of that yet. |
| 🤔 Lass mich kurz nachdenken. | Let me think for a moment. |
| 🧮 Das muss ich erst durchrechnen. | I need to calculate that first. |
| 🧩 Das ergibt Sinn. | That makes sense. |
| 🚫 Das kann ich mir nicht vorstellen. | I can’t imagine that. |
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Glauben
Use glauben when you express belief, assumption, or uncertainty about something's truth; it often signals that you rely on judgment or information rather than memory.
Glauben: Basic Uses
Glauben works well for opinions, guesses, and reported beliefs, and it pairs naturally with clauses that state what you think is true.
Glauben: Examples
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Ich glaube an die Kraft der Zusammenarbeit. | I believe in the power of collaboration. | Trust in teamwork |
| 🗣️ Die Expertin glaubt, das Modell stimmt. | The expert believes the model is correct. | Credible opinion |
| 🔬 Wir glauben, die Hypothese ist richtig. | We believe the hypothesis is correct. | Provisional acceptance |
Glauben: Expressions
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🤞 Ich hoffe, das klappt. | I hope that works. |
| 👍 Darauf kann man glauben. | That one can believe in. |
| 🙏 Ich vertraue darauf. | I trust in that. |
| ❓ Kann man das wirklich glauben? | Can one really believe that? |
| ⬆️ Das übersteigt meinen Glauben. | That is beyond my belief. |
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Key Differences
The short difference is that denken leans toward active mental processes and sometimes concrete thoughts, while glauben signals belief, trust, or tentative judgment.
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Summary
Use denken for recalling, intending, or concrete opinions, and use glauben for expressing belief, assumptions, or uncertain truths; paying attention to small contextual clues will improve your nuance.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025