The German verb "haben" (to have) is one of the most fundamental verbs in the German language, serving both as a main verb expressing possession and as an auxiliary verb forming perfect tenses. Like its English counterpart "have," it appears in countless everyday expressions and is essential for basic communication.
For autodidact learners exploring German, mastering "haben" opens the door to expressing ownership, describing states, forming compound tenses, and understanding idiomatic expressions. This lesson provides a structured approach to understanding and using "haben" in various contexts.
Course Index and Additional Lessons
haben (verb) - to have, to possess, to own; used to indicate possession of objects, qualities, or states; also functions as an auxiliary verb in forming perfect tenses.
In this lesson, "haben" will appear in diverse contexts demonstrating: -
Simple possession (I have a book) -
Physical and emotional states (to have hunger, to have fear) -
Idiomatic expressions (to have time, to have luck) -
Perfect tense formation (I have eaten) -
Various grammatical persons and tenses
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"haben" is an irregular verb with stem changes in some forms -
It functions both as a main verb and auxiliary verb -
Word order changes significantly between German and English -
Many German expressions with "haben" differ from English usage -
Mastery of "haben" is essential for everyday communication
Question: What does "haben" mean in German? Answer: "Haben" is the German verb meaning "to have" or "to possess." It is used to express ownership of objects, describe states or conditions, form perfect tenses, and appears in many idiomatic expressions. It is one of the most frequently used verbs in German.
educationalLevel: Beginner to Intermediate learningResourceType: Language Learning Lesson teaches: German verb "haben" (to have) inLanguage: en-US targetLanguage: de educationalUse: Self-study German language acquisition typicalAgeRange: 14+ timeRequired: PT45M
11.1 Ich I habe have einen a Hund dog
11.2 Du you hast have zwei two Katzen cats zu at Hause home
11.3 Meine my Schwester sister hat has blaue blue Augen eyes
11.4 Wir we haben have heute today keine no Zeit time
11.5 Habt have ihr you (plural) schon already gegessen eaten?
11.6 Die the Kinder children haben have große great Angst fear vor of dem the Gewitter thunderstorm
11.7 Gestern yesterday hatte had ich I starke strong Kopfschmerzen headache
11.8 Er he hat has immer always Glück luck im in the Spiel game
11.9 Wann when hast have du you Geburtstag birthday?
11.10 Die the Studenten students haben have ihre their Prüfung exam bestanden passed
11.11 Ich I hätte would have gern gladly ein a Glas glass Wasser water
11.12 Sie she hat has es it eilig hurry
11.13 Morgen tomorrow werden will wir we mehr more Geld money haben have
11.14 Das the Restaurant restaurant hat has montags on Mondays geschlossen closed
11.15 Alle all Menschen people haben have das the Recht right auf to Freiheit freedom
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11.1 Ich habe einen Hund. I have a dog.
11.2 Du hast zwei Katzen zu Hause. You have two cats at home.
11.3 Meine Schwester hat blaue Augen. My sister has blue eyes.
11.4 Wir haben heute keine Zeit. We have no time today.
11.5 Habt ihr schon gegessen? Have you already eaten?
11.6 Die Kinder haben große Angst vor dem Gewitter. The children are very afraid of the thunderstorm.
11.7 Gestern hatte ich starke Kopfschmerzen. Yesterday I had a severe headache.
11.8 Er hat immer Glück im Spiel. He always has luck in games.
11.9 Wann hast du Geburtstag? When is your birthday?
11.10 Die Studenten haben ihre Prüfung bestanden. The students have passed their exam.
11.11 Ich hätte gern ein Glas Wasser. I would like a glass of water.
11.12 Sie hat es eilig. She is in a hurry.
11.13 Morgen werden wir mehr Geld haben. Tomorrow we will have more money.
11.14 Das Restaurant hat montags geschlossen. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
11.15 Alle Menschen haben das Recht auf Freiheit. All people have the right to freedom.
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11.1 Ich habe einen Hund.
11.2 Du hast zwei Katzen zu Hause.
11.3 Meine Schwester hat blaue Augen.
11.4 Wir haben heute keine Zeit.
11.5 Habt ihr schon gegessen?
11.6 Die Kinder haben große Angst vor dem Gewitter.
11.7 Gestern hatte ich starke Kopfschmerzen.
11.8 Er hat immer Glück im Spiel.
11.9 Wann hast du Geburtstag?
11.10 Die Studenten haben ihre Prüfung bestanden.
11.11 Ich hätte gern ein Glas Wasser.
11.12 Sie hat es eilig.
11.13 Morgen werden wir mehr Geld haben.
11.14 Das Restaurant hat montags geschlossen.
11.15 Alle Menschen haben das Recht auf Freiheit.
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Conjugation of "haben" in Present Tense:
ich habe (I have) du hast (you have - informal singular) er/sie/es hat (he/she/it has) wir haben (we have) ihr habt (you have - informal plural) sie/Sie haben (they/you have - formal)
Past Tense (Präteritum):
ich hatte (I had) du hattest (you had) er/sie/es hatte (he/she/it had) wir hatten (we had) ihr hattet (you had) sie/Sie hatten (they/you had)
Present Perfect:
ich habe gehabt (I have had) du hast gehabt (you have had) etc.
Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II):
ich hätte (I would have) du hättest (you would have) etc.
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Identify the subject - Who or what has something? -
Choose the correct form - Match the verb to the subject -
Place the verb correctly - In main clauses, verb is second element -
Add objects - What is possessed follows the verb
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Using "haben" with age - Germans say "Ich bin 20 Jahre alt" (I am 20 years old), not "Ich habe 20 Jahre" -
Forgetting stem changes - "du hast" not "du habe" -
Word order in questions - "Hast du...?" not "Du hast...?" -
Perfect tense of "haben" - "Ich habe gehabt" uses "haben" twice -
Confusing "haben" and "sein" - Some verbs use "sein" not "haben" for perfect tense
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German "haben" covers most uses of English "have" -
German uses "haben" in many expressions where English uses "to be" (Ich habe Hunger = I am hungry) -
Word order differs: German verb must be second in main clauses -
German distinguishes formal/informal "you" forms
"Haben" is an irregular strong verb showing: -
Stem vowel change in du/er forms (a→ä) -
Regular endings otherwise -
Functions as both main and auxiliary verb -
Forms perfect tenses with past participle "gehabt" -
Takes accusative objects when expressing possession
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The verb "haben" reflects important aspects of German culture and communication style. Germans often use "haben" in expressions where English speakers might use different verbs entirely. For instance, Germans "have hunger" (Hunger haben) rather than "being hungry," which reflects a more concrete, possession-based way of expressing states.
In German business culture, the phrase "Zeit haben" (to have time) carries significant weight. Being punctual and respecting others' time is crucial, so saying "Ich habe keine Zeit" (I have no time) is a direct and acceptable way to decline invitations or requests.
The subjunctive form "hätte gern" (would like to have) is essential for polite requests in shops, restaurants, and daily interactions. This softer form shows the German preference for formal politeness in public settings, contrasting with the more direct imperative forms common in English.
German idiomatic expressions with "haben" often surprise English learners. "Recht haben" means "to be right," "Pech haben" means "to have bad luck," and "es eilig haben" means "to be in a hurry." These expressions must be learned as complete units, as literal translations often don't convey the intended meaning.
The auxiliary use of "haben" in perfect tenses is more extensive in German than in English. While English has largely abandoned the distinction between "I have gone" and "I am gone," German maintains this difference strictly, using "haben" with most verbs but "sein" with verbs of motion and state change.
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From "Der kleine Prinz" (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, German translation by Grete and Josef Leitgeb (1950):
"Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar. Die Menschen haben diese Wahrheit vergessen. Aber du darfst sie nicht vergessen. Du bist für deine Rose verantwortlich. Ich bin für meine Rose verantwortlich."
Man one sieht sees nur only mit with dem the Herzen heart gut well. Das the Wesentliche essential ist is für for die the Augen eyes unsichtbar invisible. Die the Menschen people haben have diese this Wahrheit truth vergessen forgotten. Aber but du you darfst may sie it nicht not vergessen forget. Du you bist are für for deine your Rose rose verantwortlich responsible.
Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar. Die Menschen haben diese Wahrheit vergessen. Aber du darfst sie nicht vergessen. Du bist für deine Rose verantwortlich. One sees well only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes. People have forgotten this truth. But you must not forget it. You are responsible for your rose.
Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar. Die Menschen haben diese Wahrheit vergessen. Aber du darfst sie nicht vergessen. Du bist für deine Rose verantwortlich.
This passage demonstrates "haben" in the present perfect tense: "haben...vergessen" (have forgotten). The auxiliary "haben" combines with the past participle "vergessen" to form the perfect tense. Note how German word order places the participle at the end of the clause, unlike English which keeps "have forgotten" together.
The subject "die Menschen" (people) takes the third person plural form "haben." This literary use shows how "haben" functions in expressing completed actions that affect the present - people have forgotten this truth, and that forgetting continues to impact the present moment.
The philosophical depth of this passage also illustrates how German, like English, uses "haben" metaphorically. While one cannot literally "possess" a truth, the verb "haben" combined with "vergessen" creates a powerful image of something once held but now lost.
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11.16 Ich I habe have seit since drei three Tagen days Fieber fever
11.17 Haben have Sie you Schmerzen pain in in der the Brust chest?
11.18 Mein my Sohn son hat has einen a Ausschlag rash am on the Rücken back
11.19 Wie how lange long haben have Sie you schon already diese these Symptome symptoms?
11.20 Sie you haben have eine a leichte mild Grippe flu
11.21 Der the Patient patient hat has Probleme problems beim with Atmen breathing
11.22 Wir we haben have Ihre your Blutwerte blood values untersucht examined
11.23 Hat has jemand anyone in in Ihrer your Familie family Diabetes diabetes?
11.24 Ich I habe have keine no Allergien allergies gegen against Medikamente medications
11.25 Sie she hatte had letzte last Woche week eine an Operation operation
11.26 Haben have Sie you heute today schon already etwas something gegessen eaten?
11.27 Das the Kind child hat has hohes high Fieber fever und and Husten cough
11.28 Wir we haben have einen an Termin appointment für for Sie you nächste next Woche week
11.29 Der the Arzt doctor hat has Antibiotika antibiotics verschrieben prescribed
11.30 Hatten had Sie you früher earlier schon already einmal once solche such Beschwerden complaints?
11.16 Ich habe seit drei Tagen Fieber. I have had a fever for three days.
11.17 Haben Sie Schmerzen in der Brust? Do you have chest pain?
11.18 Mein Sohn hat einen Ausschlag am Rücken. My son has a rash on his back.
11.19 Wie lange haben Sie schon diese Symptome? How long have you had these symptoms?
11.20 Sie haben eine leichte Grippe. You have a mild flu.
11.21 Der Patient hat Probleme beim Atmen. The patient has breathing problems.
11.22 Wir haben Ihre Blutwerte untersucht. We have examined your blood values.
11.23 Hat jemand in Ihrer Familie Diabetes? Does anyone in your family have diabetes?
11.24 Ich habe keine Allergien gegen Medikamente. I have no medication allergies.
11.25 Sie hatte letzte Woche eine Operation. She had an operation last week.
11.26 Haben Sie heute schon etwas gegessen? Have you eaten anything today?
11.27 Das Kind hat hohes Fieber und Husten. The child has a high fever and cough.
11.28 Wir haben einen Termin für Sie nächste Woche. We have an appointment for you next week.
11.29 Der Arzt hat Antibiotika verschrieben. The doctor has prescribed antibiotics.
11.30 Hatten Sie früher schon einmal solche Beschwerden? Have you had such complaints before?
11.16 Ich habe seit drei Tagen Fieber.
11.17 Haben Sie Schmerzen in der Brust?
11.18 Mein Sohn hat einen Ausschlag am Rücken.
11.19 Wie lange haben Sie schon diese Symptome?
11.20 Sie haben eine leichte Grippe.
11.21 Der Patient hat Probleme beim Atmen.
11.22 Wir haben Ihre Blutwerte untersucht.
11.23 Hat jemand in Ihrer Familie Diabetes?
11.24 Ich habe keine Allergien gegen Medikamente.
11.25 Sie hatte letzte Woche eine Operation.
11.26 Haben Sie heute schon etwas gegessen?
11.27 Das Kind hat hohes Fieber und Husten.
11.28 Wir haben einen Termin für Sie nächste Woche.
11.29 Der Arzt hat Antibiotika verschrieben.
11.30 Hatten Sie früher schon einmal solche Beschwerden?
In medical German, "haben" frequently describes symptoms, conditions, and medical history. Unlike English, which often uses "to be" for states (I am sick), German typically uses "haben" with a noun (Ich habe eine Krankheit).
Schmerzen haben - to have pain Fieber haben - to have fever einen Termin haben - to have an appointment Beschwerden haben - to have complaints/symptoms eine Allergie haben - to have an allergy
Medical consultations often combine "haben" with "seit" (since/for) to indicate duration: -
Ich habe seit drei Tagen Fieber (I have had fever for three days) -
Wie lange haben Sie schon...? (How long have you had...?)
Medical professionals frequently invert "haben" for questions: -
Haben Sie Schmerzen? (Do you have pain?) -
Hatten Sie früher...? (Did you have previously...?)
Note that German medical questions are often more direct than English equivalents, reflecting the German preference for clarity in medical communication.
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