kehren

/ˈkeːʁən/

verb B1

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

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

present (3rd sg.): kehrt
past: kehrte
perfect: hat gekehrt

Meaning

to sweep
- Sie kehrte den Boden.
  
  She swept the floor.
- In manchen Gegenden kehrt man samstags die Straße vor dem Haus. Das gehört zur Nachbarschaft.
  
  In some areas people sweep the street in front of the house on Saturdays. That is part of neighbourliness.
to turn (back), as in zurückkehren (to return)
- Er kehrte nach Hause zurück.
  
  He returned home.
- Nach dem langen Urlaub kehrten sie in ihre Heimat zurück. Die Nachbarn begrüßten sie herzlich.
  
  After the long holiday they returned to their homeland. The neighbours welcomed them warmly.

Similar words

ausfegen

Ausfegen is sweeping OUT a room or area thoroughly; kehren is the general word for sweeping, and the usual choice in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Similar in other languages

French

balayer

balayer is the French word for the same thing — both mean "to sweep."

Portuguese

varrer

varrer is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to sweep."

Practice

1 What does kehren mean?

2 Fill the gap: Sie ___ den Boden.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches kehren?

verbtwo-meanings

Last updated 2026-09-17