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schreiben
/ˈʃʁaɪ̯bn̩/
to write
Ich schreibe einen Brief an meine Freundin.
I'm writing a letter to my girlfriend.
general
to write (produce written text)
Er schreibt einen Roman.
He is writing a novel.
Kannst du das bitte aufschreiben?
Can you write that down, please?
Used for letters, books, notes, messages, or any form of written communication.
informal
to type (on a keyboard)
Sie schreibt die ganze Zeit auf ihrem Laptop.
She's typing on her laptop all the time.
Common in contexts involving digital communication or work.
formal
to write (as a profession, e.g., author)
Er schreibt für eine Zeitung.
He writes for a newspaper.
Refers to professional writing, such as journalism or literature.
Collocations
einen Brief schreibento write a lettereine E-Mail schreibento write an emailein Buch schreibento write a booksich Notizen schreibento take notes
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Separable prefix verbs
'Schreiben' can combine with prefixes to form separable verbs, e.g., 'aufschreiben' (to write down), 'abschreiben' (to copy), or 'einschreiben' (to register). The prefix separates in main clauses: 'Ich schreibe es auf.'
Gold Rule
Conjugation note
The verb 'schreiben' is a strong (irregular) verb. Its past tense is 'schrieb' (I wrote), and the past participle is 'geschrieben' (written).
Word Origin
From Old High German *skrīban*, from Proto-Germanic *skrībaną, ultimately from Latin scrībere ('to write'). Related to English 'scribe' and 'script'.
Usage Notes
The verb 'schreiben' is highly versatile and can refer to any act of producing written text, whether by hand or digitally. In informal contexts, it may also imply typing on a device. The past participle is 'geschrieben' (written).
Word Breakdown
schreib-
root related to writing
root-en
infinitive verb ending
suffixDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch