bekommen

/bəˈkɔmən/

verb A1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

past: bekam
perfect: hat bekommen

Meaning

to get, to receive

A famous false friend: it does NOT mean "to become" — that's werden. "Ich bekomme ein Geschenk" means "I get a present," not "I become a present."
- Ich habe deine Nachricht bekommen.
  
  I got your message.
- Ich habe gestern einen Brief von meiner Tante bekommen. Sie lädt uns zum Fest ein.
  
  I received a letter from my aunt yesterday. She is inviting us to the party.

Similar words

kriegen

bekommen is the neutral, standard word for "to get/receive"; kriegen is its everyday colloquial equivalent, common in speech but avoided in formal writing.

Practice

1 What does bekommen mean?

2 Fill the gap: Ich habe deine Nachricht ___.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches bekommen?

Forms

Meaning

Similar words

Practice

See also