to rent / hire
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to rent
To receive something for use for a certain period of time in exchange for payment, for example an apartment, a car, or a room.
Für unseren Urlaub in Italien haben wir ein kleines Ferienhaus gemietet.
For our vacation in Italy, we rented a small holiday house.
The verb 'mieten' (to rent / hire) belongs to a word family with 'die Miete' (the rent; the money you pay) and 'der Mieter' (the tenant; the person who rents). If you know one of these words, you can remember the others more easily.
Die Miete für unsere Wohnung ist diesen Monat fällig.
The rent for our apartment is due this month.
'Mieten' (to rent / hire) always describes the perspective of the person who pays to use something. You are the customer or user.
Wir haben für die Konferenz einen großen Raum gemietet.
We rented a large room for the conference.
The verb 'mieten' (to rent / hire) almost always requires an accusative object. You always rent 'something' or hire 'someone'.
Ich möchte ein Fahrrad für den Nachmittag mieten.
I would like to rent a bicycle for the afternoon.
The difference between the meanings lies in the object: if you rent a thing or a place (apartment, car), the first meaning is intended. If you hire a person for a service (cook, photographer), the second meaning is intended.
Sie haben für die Hochzeit einen Oldtimer gemietet.
They rented a vintage car for the wedding.
to buy
'kaufen' and 'mieten' both have to do with paying, but the result is different. When you buy something, it belongs to you afterward. When you rent something, you are only allowed to use it for a certain time and give it back later. The words are easily confused because you pay money in both cases. With apartments, cars, or rooms, the difference is especially important: buying means ownership, renting means temporary use.
Für den Umzug mieten wir einen Transporter für zwei Tage.
For the move, we are renting a van for two days.
Mein Freund kauft nächstes Jahr eine kleine Wohnung.
My friend is buying a small apartment next year.