01
füllen
fill
To put something into a container, room, or form until it is full.
example
Kannst du bitte die Wasserflaschen für die Wanderung füllen?
Can you please fill the water bottles for the hike?
füllen
to fill
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'füllen' (to fill) is closely related to the adjective 'voll' (full). When you fill something, you make sure that it becomes full. This connection helps you remember the meaning.
EXAMPLE
Er füllte sein Glas, bis es ganz voll war.
He filled his glass until it was completely full.
Sentence structure with 'mit'
When you want to indicate what something is filled with, you use the preposition 'mit' followed by the dative. The structure is: subject fills accusative object with dative object.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder füllen den Eimer mit Sand.
The children fill the bucket with sand.
Reflexive use
The reflexive form 'sich füllen' (to fill up) describes that a place or container becomes full. The subject of the sentence is then the place or container itself, not the person filling it.
EXAMPLE
Langsam füllte sich der Platz mit Menschen.
The square slowly filled up with people.
Typical collocations
In addition to containers such as glasses or bottles, 'füllen' (to fill) is also often used in the expression 'ein Formular füllen' (to fill in a form). Here it means entering information.
EXAMPLE
Bitte füllen Sie dieses Formular vollständig aus.
Please fill out this form completely.
Feelings filling someone
In a figurative meaning, a feeling can also 'füllen' (fill) a person. The structure is: a feeling (subject) fills a person (accusative object).
EXAMPLE
Ihre Worte füllten ihn mit Hoffnung.
Her words filled him with hope.
Fixed expression
The expression 'eine Lücke füllen' (to fill a gap) means to make up for a lack or fill a missing position. It is often used in professional or social contexts.
EXAMPLE
Der neue Mitarbeiter soll die Lücke im Marketing-Team füllen.
The new employee is supposed to fill the gap in the marketing team.
Compare with
füllen vs erfüllen
to fulfill
'erfüllen' and 'füllen' are similar when a room, a person, or a situation is completely shaped by something. 'füllen' is often more concrete: you fill a glass, a room, or a gap. It can also mean that music, people, or a mood fills a place. 'erfüllen' sounds stronger and somewhat more figurative with feelings, sounds, or atmosphere: joy fills someone, music fills the room. Learners easily confuse the words because they look alike and overlap in some sentences. If something is really going into a container, use 'füllen'. With strong feelings or an atmosphere, 'erfüllen' often sounds more natural.
füllen
Vor der Wanderung füllt Lisa ihre Flasche mit Wasser.
Before the hike, Lisa fills her bottle with water.
erfüllen
Im Konzert erfüllt leise Musik den ganzen Saal.
At the concert, quiet music fills the entire hall.
In real life
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