01
sich lohnen
to be worth it
To be worthwhile or advantageous; to bring a positive return for an effort made.
example
Es hat sich wirklich gelohnt, für die Prüfung so viel zu lernen.
It was really worth it to study so much for the exam.
lohnen
to be worth it / to reward
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'lohnen' is closely related to the noun 'der Lohn', which means 'salary/wages' or 'reward'. This connection helps you understand the basic idea of the word: it is always about a return or reward for an effort.
EXAMPLE
Harte Arbeit verdient einen gerechten Lohn.
Hard work deserves fair pay.
Reflexive vs. non-reflexive
The most common use is reflexive: 'sich lohnen' means 'to be worth it' or 'to be advantageous'. The rarer, non-reflexive form 'jemanden lohnen' means 'to reward someone' and always requires an accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Die lange Anfahrt hat sich gelohnt.
The long journey was worth it.
Sentence structure with infinitive
'Sich lohnen' is very often used in the impersonal form 'Es lohnt sich, ...' (It is worth it to ...), followed by an infinitive construction with 'zu'. This structure is ideal for expressing that a certain action makes sense.
EXAMPLE
Es lohnt sich, früh aufzustehen, um den Sonnenaufgang zu sehen.
It is worth getting up early to see the sunrise.
Register and style
The meaning 'to reward someone' is rare today and belongs to a formal or literary style. In normal usage, the reflexive form 'sich lohnen' (to be worth it) is much more common.
EXAMPLE
Gott möge es Ihnen lohnen.
May God reward you for it.
Compare with
lohnen vs belohnen
to reward
'lohnen' and 'belohnen' both have to do with a positive result after effort or achievement. 'Sich lohnen' means that something is worth the effort: you invest time, money, or energy and get a benefit. 'belohnen' means that someone receives something for an achievement or good behavior, for example praise, money, or a gift. You can also reward yourself. The words can be confused because both fit after effort. A practical rule is: something 'lohnt sich' (is worth it), but a person is 'belohnt' (rewarded).
lohnen
Der lange Weg lohnt sich, weil der Strand dort sehr schön ist.
The long trip is worth it because the beach there is very beautiful.
belohnen
Nach der Prüfung belohnt sich Sofia mit einem freien Nachmittag.
After the exam, Sofia rewards herself with an afternoon off.
In real life
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