nerven
to annoy
To disturb, bother, or irritate someone through repeated or ongoing behavior.
EXAMPLE
Hör bitte auf, mit dem Stift zu klicken, das nervt.
Please stop clicking the pen; it's annoying.
nerven
to annoy
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
jemandem auf die Nerven gehen
to get on someone's nerves
An idiomatic expression that means to strongly irritate someone or drive them to despair.
EXAMPLE
Mit seiner ständigen Besserwisserei geht er mir gehörig auf die Nerven.
With his constant know-it-all attitude, he really gets on my nerves.
nerven
to innervate
In medical terminology, it means to supply an organ or body part with nerves.
EXAMPLE
Der Nervus ulnaris nervt unter anderem den kleinen Finger.
The ulnar nerve innervates, among other things, the little finger.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'nerven' (to annoy) is directly connected to the noun 'der Nerv' (nerve). When something is annoying, it figuratively affects the nerves.
EXAMPLE
Deine laute Musik geht mir auf die Nerven.
Your loud music is getting on my nerves.
Use with the accusative
When a person is directly annoyed, that person is in the accusative. But you can also use the verb without an object to express generally that a situation is annoying.
EXAMPLE
Die ständigen Fragen deines Bruders nerven mich.
Your brother's constant questions annoy me.
Fixed expression with dative
In the fixed expression 'jemandem auf die Nerven gehen' (to get on someone's nerves), the person who is annoyed is always in the dative. The structure cannot be changed.
EXAMPLE
Mit seinem unhöflichen Verhalten geht er allen auf die Nerven.
With his rude behavior, he gets on everyone's nerves.
Technical context
This meaning is used exclusively in medical or biological technical language. In everyday language, 'nerven' (to annoy) always describes the feeling of being bothered.
EXAMPLE
Der Trigeminusnerv nervt große Teile des Gesichts.
The trigeminal nerve innervates large parts of the face.
Compare with
nerven vs stören
to disturb / bother
Stören and nerven can both express that something is bothersome. Stören is more neutral and also fits a single inappropriate action. Nerven is more colloquial and usually emphasizes irritation caused by repeated or ongoing behavior.
nerven
Das ständige laute Tippen meines Kollegen nervt mich während der Besprechung.
My colleague's constant loud typing annoys me during the meeting.
stören
Das einmalige laute Tippen meines Kollegen stört mich während der Besprechung.
My colleague's one instance of loud typing bothers me during the meeting.
In real life
Loading video examples...