imitieren

/imiˈtiːʁən/

verb B2

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

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

present: imitiert
past: imitierte
perfect: hat imitiert

Meaning

to imitate
- Er kann den Lehrer gut imitieren.
  
  He can imitate the teacher well.
- Der Papagei imitiert die Stimme seines Besitzers. Alle Besucher lachen darüber.
  
  The parrot imitates its owner's voice. All the visitors laugh about it.

Similar words

nachahmen

imitieren and nachahmen are close synonyms for "to imitate"; imitieren is neutral, nachahmen is native German and can carry a slightly negative "copying" connotation.

Similar in other languages

French

imiter

imiter is the French word for the same thing — both mean "to imitate."

Portuguese

imitar

imitar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to imitate."

Practice

1 What does imitieren mean?

2 Fill the gap: Er kann den Lehrer gut ___.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches imitieren?

verb

Last updated 2026-09-24