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
sich füllen
fill up
The state in which a place or container becomes full by itself or through outside influence.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Konzert füllte sich der Saal schnell mit Zuschauern.
Before the concert, the hall quickly filled up with spectators.
füllen
fill
To fill a place with people, sounds, or a particular atmosphere, or to structure a period of time with activities.
EXAMPLE
Der Duft von frisch gebackenem Kuchen füllte die ganze Küche.
The smell of freshly baked cake filled the whole kitchen.
füllen
fill
To fill a person with a strong feeling such as joy, pride, or sadness.
EXAMPLE
Die Anerkennung für ihre Arbeit füllte sie mit großem Stolz.
The recognition for her work filled her with great pride.
eine Lücke füllen
fill a gap
To remedy a lack or fill a vacant position or function.
EXAMPLE
Mit der Einstellung des neuen Experten konnten wir eine wichtige Lücke im Team füllen.
By hiring the new expert, we were able to fill an important gap in the team.
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 can both express that a strong feeling completely takes hold of a person. erfüllen is the usual choice. With a person as the object, füllen is also possible, but sounds more vivid or literary.
füllen
Nach der Zusage füllte sie eine tiefe Freude.
After she received the confirmation, she was filled with deep joy.
erfüllen
Nach der Zusage erfüllte sie eine tiefe Freude.
After she received the confirmation, she was filled with deep joy.
In real life
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