01
mähen
to mow
To cut grass or a meadow short with a machine (lawn mower) or a tool (scythe).
example
Am Samstag muss ich unbedingt den Rasen mähen.
On Saturday, I absolutely have to mow the lawn.
mähen
to mow
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Sentence structure and usage
The verb 'mähen' (to mow) almost always needs an accusative object that indicates what is being cut. You usually cannot simply 'mähen'; you always mow something.
EXAMPLE
Der Gärtner mäht die große Wiese hinter dem Haus.
The gardener mows the large meadow behind the house.
Perfect tense formation
The perfect tense of 'mähen' (to mow) is formed with the auxiliary verb 'haben' and the participle 'gemäht'. The form is the same in all meanings.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe gestern den Rasen gemäht.
I mowed the lawn yesterday.
Typical collocations
In the context of gardening, 'mähen' (to mow) is typically used with 'den Rasen' (the lawn) or 'die Wiese' (the meadow). The appropriate tool is often 'der Rasenmäher' (the lawn mower).
EXAMPLE
Könntest du bitte am Wochenende den Rasen mähen?
Could you please mow the lawn this weekend?
Context: agriculture
This meaning of 'mähen' (to mow) belongs to the field of agriculture and harvesting. Typical objects are 'das Getreide' (the grain), 'das Korn' (the grain), or 'der Weizen' (the wheat).
EXAMPLE
Früher mähten die Bauern das Getreide mit der Sense.
In the past, farmers mowed the grain with a scythe.
Compare with
mähen vs schneiden
to cut
'schneiden' and 'mähen' both mean that something is made shorter or cut off with a tool or machine. 'schneiden' is the general word and fits many things, such as paper, vegetables, or fabric. 'mähen' is used only for grass, meadows, or grain in a field. It sounds like gardening or agriculture. The words can be confused because when you mow, you are in fact cutting grass or grain. Even so, in everyday language you say 'den Rasen mähen' (to mow the lawn), not 'den Rasen schneiden', when you are using a lawn mower.
mähen
Am Samstag mähen wir den Rasen hinter dem Haus.
On Saturday, we mow the lawn behind the house.
schneiden
In der Küche schneidet Frau Yilmaz das Brot für das Abendessen.
In the kitchen, Mrs. Yilmaz cuts the bread for dinner.
In real life
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