01
kriegen
to get
Colloquial for 'bekommen' (to get/receive); to receive or obtain something.
example
Was kriegst du zum Geburtstag?
What are you getting for your birthday?
kriegen
to get
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 06
Usage tips
Colloquial style
'Kriegen' (to get) is a very common verb in spoken language and in informal texts such as chats. In formal, official, or written contexts, it is usually avoided.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss noch schnell was zu essen kriegen.
I still need to quickly get something to eat.
Passive construction
Similar to 'bekommen' (to get/receive), 'kriegen' (to get) can form a passive-like construction with a past participle. This emphasizes that the subject receives something or that an action is performed on the subject.
EXAMPLE
Du kriegst das Fahrrad zum Geburtstag geschenkt.
You’re getting the bike given to you for your birthday.
Typical collocations
To express the onset of an illness or a feeling, 'kriegen' (to get) is often combined with nouns such as 'eine Erkältung' (a cold), 'Fieber' (fever), 'Kopfschmerzen' (headaches), 'Angst' (fear/anxiety), or 'Hunger' (hunger).
EXAMPLE
Wenn ich zu wenig schlafe, kriege ich schnell Kopfschmerzen.
If I don’t sleep enough, I quickly get headaches.
Sentence structure with result
The structure 'Objekt + Adjektiv/Adverb + kriegen' (object + adjective/adverb + get) means that someone manages to bring something into a certain state. The adjective or adverb comes at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Ich kriege das Glas einfach nicht sauber.
I just can’t get the glass clean.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'die Kurve kriegen' (to make the curve) means to just about manage a difficult situation or successfully solve a problem, even though things did not look good at first.
EXAMPLE
Er hat in der Prüfung gerade noch so die Kurve gekriegt.
He just about managed to pull through in the exam.
Reflexive use
The reflexive form 'sich kriegen' or 'sich wieder kriegen' (to pull oneself together/calm down again) means to calm down after a strong emotion such as laughing, crying, or anger and regain control.
EXAMPLE
Der Witz war so gut, ich konnte mich vor Lachen kaum wieder kriegen.
The joke was so good that I could hardly pull myself together from laughing.
Compare with
kriegen vs geben
to give
'geben' and 'kriegen' often describe the same situation from two different directions. Someone who 'gibt' something hands it over or gives it as a gift. Someone who 'kriegt' something receives it. They are therefore opposites: one person gives, the other gets. 'kriegen' is also colloquial; in neutral or formal language, people often say 'bekommen' or 'erhalten'. The words can be confused if you do not pay attention to the direction: if something goes away from me, 'geben' fits. If something comes to me, 'kriegen' fits.
kriegen
Ich habe nach dem Kurs eine Nachricht von der Lehrerin gekriegt.
I got a message from the teacher after the course.
geben
Mehmet gibt seiner Schwester den Schlüssel, bevor er zur Arbeit fährt.
Mehmet gives his sister the key before he goes to work.
In real life
Loading video examples...