besuchen
to visit
To go or travel to a person in order to spend time with them.
EXAMPLE
Am Wochenende besuche ich meine Großeltern.
I'm visiting my grandparents on the weekend.
besuchen
to visit
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Meanings
besuchen
to attend / visit
To attend or be present at a place, event, or institution.
EXAMPLE
Sie besucht einen Deutschkurs an der Volkshochschule.
She attends a German course at the adult education center.
besuchen
to visit
To open and view a website in a web browser.
EXAMPLE
Täglich besuchen Millionen von Nutzern diese Webseite.
Millions of users visit this website every day.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The verb 'besuchen' (to visit/attend) has the prefix 'be-' and is therefore inseparable. The prefix stays firmly attached to the verb in all sentence forms and tenses.
EXAMPLE
Er besuchte letztes Jahr einen Programmierkurs.
He attended a programming course last year.
Use with accusative
'Besuchen' (to visit/attend) is always used with an accusative object and does not need a preposition. You ask: Whom or what are you visiting/attending?
EXAMPLE
Morgen besuche ich eine interessante Ausstellung.
Tomorrow I'm visiting an interesting exhibition.
Context clue
The exact meaning of 'besuchen' (to visit/attend) can be recognized from the object. A person as the object means spending time with them. A place or event as the object means going there or taking part.
EXAMPLE
Ich besuche meinen Freund Paul.
I'm visiting my friend Paul.
Typical collocations
In the context of education and culture, 'besuchen' (to attend/visit) is often combined with institutions or events. Typical examples are: 'eine Schule besuchen' (to attend a school), 'eine Universität besuchen' (to attend a university), 'einen Kurs besuchen' (to attend a course), 'ein Museum besuchen' (to visit a museum), or 'eine Vorlesung besuchen' (to attend a lecture).
EXAMPLE
Mein Sohn besucht seit August die Grundschule.
My son has been attending elementary school since August.
Compare with
besuchen vs hören
to hear / to listen
Hören and besuchen can both refer to attending a university lecture. Hören is the specific term for regularly attending as a student, while besuchen expresses being present at an event more generally. Use hören in a university context and besuchen as the neutral form.
besuchen
Im dritten Semester besuche ich eine Vorlesung über Geschichte.
In my third semester, I am attending a history lecture.
hören
Im dritten Semester höre ich eine Vorlesung über Geschichte.
In my third semester, I am taking a history lecture.
In real life
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