a tiny bit of confusion on 'laufen' by cacherylga 31. Dec 2009
Hello!
I'm learning German as fast as can be, and am using Germanflashcards.com in addition to Deutche Welle's website, Rosetta Stone, and in a month, a private tutor. (Currently living in Heidelberg - it's a bit of a sink-or-swim situation, having started from no German knowledge a month or two ago.)
There is confusion between my sources on what "laufen" means. Rosetta Stone says "laufan" means "to walk"...here, it means "to run", and my German/English dictionary as well as Google has both definitions down. ??? There is a clear physical difference between walking and running. I would have thought one word couldn't possibly mean both states. Is this one of the words that changes depending on what dialect you're speaking with?
thanks,
Cheryl |
oliver  31. Dec 2009
Laufen means "to run". You can do a Google Image search. |
db_cisco 2. Jan 2010
Cheryl,
a tool I have used is this web site:
http://www.dict.cc/?s=
Input the word and then clcik "search" for the word. The result will be the word if known. You can get a definition of the word by clicking on the word and you can also click to hear it spoken.
I hope this helps.
D-Baum |
cacherylga 2. Jan 2010
Awesome - thanks, both of you!
-Cheryl |
gunslingah 23. Jan 2010
Laufen actually can mean both. I agree that it's confusing, but it depends on the context. If someone were to direct you to walk along a street, they would say "die Strasse entlang laufen", they certainly wouldn't mean that you had to run full out.
If you want a word for "to walk" you could use "spazieren" or just "gehen"... Sorry, there's not an easy translation for this one! |
gsconyer 2. Feb 2010
There is also rennen for to run. I've seen it all three suggested words (laufen, spazieren, and rennen) used but it seems that laufen is used most often. Not sure that helps, but there it is. |
johneardley 3. Feb 2010
Just as in English many words can have different meanings. I believe the word 'set' in English can have as many as thirty-seven different meanings. E.g. 'A set of cutlery', 'set the table', 'a chess set', 'get set', to be 'set apart', 'set in stone' and many more - but you get the idea. Imagine how confusing this can be for a foreigner learning English!
So also in German:
'Durch die Stadt laufen' - 'To walk through the town'.
'Er lauft schnell' - 'he ran fast'
Some more obscure examples:
'Amok laufen' - to run amok.
'Auf Grund laufen' - to run aground.
'Aus dem Ruder laufen' - to get out of hand.
and so-on...
The beginner learning a language often gets confused by these obscure variations and so my recommendation is to start by learning the most common usage and try to find examples of new words in context. It is so easy to become confused. |
deutch01 24. Feb 2010
I think its easier to think of it this way to make life easier whilst you have time to let German settle into your English head like it has with me.
laufen=to walk (to go on foot) , to go , to run
rennen=to run, to run into, to run fast
spazieren (gehen)=to (go for a) stroll
I agree its not much in the difference, but then try explaining the difference between 'to have to' and 'must' to yourself. |
Stolee 26. Apr 2011
When Is used Ihm, Ihr, I know that Ihm ist masculinum and Ihr femininum, but in which kind of situations? |
raiatea 20. Jan 2013
Laufen is any kind of locomotion by foot but is mostly used for walking not running. |
