01
existieren
to exist
To be present, to be real, or to live.
example
Glaubst du, dass Außerirdische auf anderen Planeten existieren?
Do you believe that aliens exist on other planets?
existieren
to exist
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Verbs ending in '-ieren'
'Existieren' (to exist) ends in '-ieren', which is typical for verbs from other languages (often Latin). These verbs are always regular and form their past participle without 'ge-' ('existiert').
EXAMPLE
Dieses Problem hat schon immer existiert.
This problem has always existed.
Abstract context
In its main meaning, 'existieren' (to exist) is often used in philosophical, scientific, or abstract contexts to describe the mere existence of something.
EXAMPLE
Die Frage, ob Paralleluniversen existieren, beschäftigt viele Physiker.
The question of whether parallel universes exist occupies many physicists.
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning 'überleben' (to survive) from additional words that describe a difficulty. Pay attention to adverbs like 'kaum' (hardly), 'mühsam' (with difficulty), or the preposition 'von' (on/from), which indicates what someone lives on.
EXAMPLE
Mit so wenig Geld kann man kaum existieren.
With so little money, one can hardly subsist.
Compare with
existieren vs sein
to be
'sein' and 'existieren' can both express that something is really there. However, 'sein' is much broader and is used in everyday language for people, places, qualities, and states. 'existieren' means more specifically that something is present or real, often when talking about ideas, problems, species, or rare things. It sounds more factual than 'sein'. For simple everyday sentences, 'sein' is usually more natural. 'existieren' fits when the question is whether something exists at all.
existieren
Solche alten Regeln existieren in vielen Vereinen noch.
Old rules like that still exist in many clubs.
sein
Die Ärztin ist heute zu Hause bei ihrer Familie.
The doctor is at home with her family today.
In real life
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