01
nähen
to sew
To join or work with fabric, leather, or other materials using a needle and thread in order to make or repair clothing or other objects.
example
Sie hat gelernt, ihre eigenen Kleider zu nähen.
She learned to sew her own dresses.
nähen
to sew / stitch
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'nähen' (to sew / stitch) is the base for other useful words. 'Die Naht' (the seam) is the line where two pieces of fabric are joined, and 'die Nähmaschine' (the sewing machine) is the device used for sewing.
EXAMPLE
An meiner Jacke ist eine Naht aufgegangen.
A seam has come undone on my jacket.
Context clue
The object of the verb makes clear which meaning is intended. If you sew 'ein Kleid' (a dress), 'einen Vorhang' (a curtain), or 'einen Knopf' (a button), the craft activity is meant. If you stitch 'eine Wunde' (a wound), the medical procedure is meant.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt erklärte, dass er die Wunde sofort nähen müsse.
The doctor explained that he had to stitch the wound immediately.
Sentence structure with prepositions
Different prepositions describe the sewing action more precisely. You sew something 'an' something (a button onto a shirt), 'auf' something (a patch onto a pair of trousers), or 'aus' something (a dress out of linen).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir diesen Knopf wieder an meine Jacke nähen?
Can you sew this button back onto my jacket for me?
Use in the passive
In a medical context, 'nähen' (to stitch) is very often used in the passive, because the person with the wound does not perform the action themselves. A typical formulation is: 'Die Wunde musste genäht werden.' (The wound had to be stitched.)
EXAMPLE
Nach dem kleinen Unfall musste sein Kinn mit drei Stichen genäht werden.
After the small accident, his chin had to be stitched with three stitches.
Compare with
nähen vs verbinden
to connect / to bandage
'verbinden' and 'nähen' can both have to do with holding material or a wound together. 'verbinden' is more general: you can connect things technically or physically, and you can protect a wound with a bandage. 'nähen' is more specific and means working with a needle and thread, for example with fabric or, in medicine, with a wound. The risk of confusion is especially high with wounds: 'eine Wunde verbinden' means to put a bandage around a wound; 'eine Wunde nähen' means to close it with medical thread.
nähen
Der Arzt muss die tiefe Wunde am Arm nähen.
The doctor has to stitch the deep wound on the arm.
verbinden
Nach dem Sturz verbindet die Ärztin die Wunde am Knie.
After the fall, the doctor bandages the wound on the knee.
In real life
Loading video examples...