abspielen
to play
To play back an audio or video recording using a technical device.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte mein Lieblingslied abspielen?
Could you please play my favorite song?
abspielen
to play / happen
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Meanings
sich abspielen
to happen
To happen, take place, or occur. Often used for complex processes, scenes, or events.
EXAMPLE
Vor unseren Augen spielte sich ein unglaubliches Drama ab.
An unbelievable drama played out before our eyes.
abspielen
to pass
In sports, especially ball games, to pass the ball to a teammate.
EXAMPLE
Statt selbst zu schießen, sollte er den Ball besser abspielen.
Instead of shooting himself, he should pass the ball.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abspielen' (to play / happen) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er spielt die Sprachnachricht noch einmal ab.
He plays the voice message again.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the context: With media (song, film), it means 'wiedergeben' (to play back). As a reflexive verb ('sich abspielen'), it means 'geschehen' (to happen). In sports, with 'Ball' (ball) as the object, it means 'weitergeben' (to pass on).
EXAMPLE
Ich kann die Datei auf meinem Computer nicht abspielen.
I can't play the file on my computer.
Typical objects
In the meaning 'wiedergeben' (to play back), the typical objects are media formats such as 'ein Lied' (a song), 'eine CD' (a CD), 'ein Video' (a video), 'einen Film' (a film), or 'eine Playlist' (a playlist).
EXAMPLE
Können wir auf der Party deine Playlist abspielen?
Can we play your playlist at the party?
Reflexive verb
In the meaning 'geschehen' (to happen) or 'stattfinden' (to take place), the verb is always used reflexively: 'sich abspielen'. The subject is the event itself.
EXAMPLE
Im Stadtzentrum spielte sich eine Demonstration ab.
A demonstration took place in the city center.
Sentence structure in sports
When passing the ball to a teammate, you can express this with the dative or with 'an' + accusative.
EXAMPLE
Er spielte seinem Mitspieler den Ball zu.
He passed the ball to his teammate.
Compare with
abspielen vs ablaufen
to expire / proceed / drain
Ablaufen and sich abspielen can both describe an event taking place. Ablaufen tends to emphasize the course or orderly steps of a process; sich abspielen puts the event or a specific scene in the foreground. The choice therefore depends on whether the focus is on the process or the event itself.
abspielen
Vor dem Eingang spielte sich eine dramatische Rettungsaktion ab.
A dramatic rescue operation unfolded in front of the entrance.
ablaufen
Die Rettungsaktion lief nach einem festen Plan ab.
The rescue operation proceeded according to a set plan.
In real life
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