tauschen
Ich möchte meine alten Bücher gegen deine DVDs tauschen.
I'd like to exchange my old books for your DVDs.
to exchange something for something else, typically of similar value
Wir tauschen unsere Meinungen über das Buch aus.
We exchange our opinions about the book.
Er tauscht seine Euro in Dollar um.
He exchanges his euros for dollars.
Can be used for physical items, ideas, or currency. Often implies mutual agreement.
to swap, to trade
Kannst du deine Schokolade gegen meine Gummibärchen tauschen?
Can you swap your chocolate for my gummy bears?
More casual than 'austauschen', often used in childhood or informal contexts.
to change, to switch (positions, roles, or places)
Die Spieler tauschten ihre Positionen.
The players switched positions.
Common in sports or organizational contexts.
Collocations
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Remember the difference from 'austauschen'
'Tauschen' implies a mutual exchange of similar items, while 'austauschen' often means to replace something with something else (e.g., 'eine Glühbirne austauschen' = to replace a light bulb).
Gold Rule
Tauschen requires mutual agreement
Unlike 'wechseln' (to change), 'tauschen' always involves two parties agreeing to exchange items or roles. It is not a one-sided action.
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'tūschen', from Old High German 'tūskōn', related to Old English 'tēon' (to draw, pull). Originally meant 'to pull apart' or 'to draw out', later evolved to mean 'to exchange' through the idea of giving something in return.
Usage Notes
Tauschen is a separable verb (tauschen → tausche, tauschst, tauscht). It can be used reflexively (sich tauschen) in some contexts, though this is less common. Always requires an object or context to clarify what is being exchanged.