trennen

/ˈtʁɛnən/

verb B1

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

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

present: trennt
past: trennte
perfect: hat getrennt

Meaning

to separate
- Wir trennen den Müll zu Hause.
  
  We separate the rubbish at home.
- Bitte trennen Sie den Müll in Papier, Plastik und Rest. Dafür gibt es drei Tonnen.
  
  Please separate the rubbish into paper, plastic and general waste. There are three bins for it.

Similar words

aufteilen

Aufteilen is to divide something up into shares or parts; trennen is to separate things that were together, without necessarily implying a fair division.

entzweien

Entzweien specifically means to set two people or groups at odds with each other; trennen is the general word for separating things, with no implication of conflict.

Similar in other languages

Portuguese

apartar

apartar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to separate."

Portuguese

separar

separar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to separate."

Practice

1 What does trennen mean?

2 Fill the gap: Wir ___ den Müll zu Hause.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches trennen?

verb

Last updated 2026-09-24