01
laufen
to run
To move quickly on one's own feet, faster than walking.
example
Die Kinder laufen im Garten um die Wette.
The children are running races in the garden.
laufen
to run
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Perfect tense with 'sein'
As a verb of movement, 'laufen' (to run/walk) forms the perfect and pluperfect with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be). This applies to both the literal meaning and the colloquial meaning of walking.
EXAMPLE
Ich bin gestern fünf Kilometer gelaufen.
I ran five kilometers yesterday.
Word family
Important nouns are derived from 'laufen' (to run), such as 'der Lauf' (the act of running or a race) and 'der Läufer' (the person who runs).
EXAMPLE
Beim Marathon in Berlin waren tausende Läufer am Start.
Thousands of runners were at the starting line for the marathon in Berlin.
Context: technology
When it is about machines, engines, or computer programs, 'laufen' (to run) means that they are switched on and functioning. The opposite would be 'stehen' (to be stopped) or 'aus sein' (to be off).
EXAMPLE
Welches Betriebssystem läuft auf deinem Computer?
Which operating system runs on your computer?
Figurative meaning
To describe how a process or business is progressing, 'laufen' (to go) is often combined with adverbs like 'gut' (well), 'schlecht' (badly), or 'nach Plan' (according to plan).
EXAMPLE
Ich hoffe, bei deiner Präsentation läuft alles gut.
I hope everything goes well with your presentation.
Context: media
In connection with media such as cinema or television, 'laufen' (to be showing/airing) means that something is currently being shown or broadcast. The typical structure is: '[Film] läuft in/im [Kino]' ([film] is showing in/at the [cinema]).
EXAMPLE
Welche Filme laufen diese Woche im Kino?
Which films are showing at the cinema this week?
Context: contracts and deadlines
For contracts, subscriptions, or deadlines, 'laufen' (to run) means that they are valid. The duration is often given with 'bis' (until) or 'seit' (since).
EXAMPLE
Mein Fitnessstudio-Vertrag läuft noch sechs Monate.
My gym contract runs for another six months.
Dative construction
The expression 'die Nase läuft' (the nose is running) is fixed. The person affected by it is in the dative. So you say 'Mir läuft die Nase' (My nose is running; literally: To me runs the nose).
EXAMPLE
Ich glaube, ich bekomme eine Erkältung, mir läuft die ganze Zeit die Nase.
I think I'm getting a cold; my nose is running all the time.
Colloquial meaning
In everyday language, 'laufen' (to walk) is very often used instead of 'gehen' (to go/walk) to describe moving on foot, without it having to be fast.
EXAMPLE
Wollen wir ein Stück laufen? Die frische Luft tut gut.
Shall we walk for a bit? The fresh air will do us good.
Compare with
laufen vs gehen
to go
'gehen' and 'laufen' can both have to do with movement on your own feet. In standard German, 'gehen' is the normal, rather slow movement on foot. 'laufen' often means to go faster, that is, to run or jog. Colloquially, however, 'laufen' is also used like 'gehen', for example 'Ich laufe zum Bahnhof' (I'm walking to the station). That is why the words can easily be confused. In the meaning 'to work / function', they are also similar: a device can 'gehen' or 'laufen'. 'laufen' sounds especially natural when something is in operation.
laufen
Wir laufen jeden Morgen eine Runde um den See.
We run a lap around the lake every morning.
gehen
Bitte geh langsam, der Boden ist nass.
Please walk slowly; the floor is wet.
In real life
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