dehnen

/ˈdeːnən/

verb B1

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

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

present: dehnt
past: dehnte
perfect: hat gedehnt

Meaning

to stretch
- Vor dem Sport dehnt sie die Muskeln.
  
  Before sport she stretches her muscles.
- Vor dem Laufen dehne ich immer meine Beine. So verletze ich mich nicht.
  
  Before running I always stretch my legs. That way I do not injure myself.

Similar words

aufrecken

Aufrecken (usually "sich aufrecken") is stretching yourself UP, rising up tall; dehnen is the general word for stretching, like a muscle or an elastic material.

Similar in other languages

Portuguese

alongar

alongar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to stretch."

Portuguese

estirar

estirar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to stretch."

Practice

1 What does dehnen mean?

2 Fill the gap: Vor dem Sport ___ sie die Muskeln.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches dehnen?

verb

Last updated 2026-09-24