recyceln
to recycle
To process waste or used materials so that they become new products or reusable raw materials.
EXAMPLE
Die Stadt recycelt Papier, Glas und Kunststoff.
The city recycles paper, glass, and plastic.
recyceln
to recycle
recyceln – recycelte – hat recycelt
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Meanings
recyceln
to recycle
To reuse something that already exists, especially texts, ideas, or content, often in a modified form.
EXAMPLE
Der Autor recycelt in seinem neuen Roman eine alte Idee.
The author recycles an old idea in his new novel.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry recyceln, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | recycle recycele |
|---|---|
| du | recycelst |
| er/sie/es | recycelt |
| wir | recyceln |
| ihr | recycelt |
| sie | recyceln |
Simple past
| ich | recycelte |
|---|---|
| du | recyceltest |
| er/sie/es | recycelte |
| wir | recycelten |
| ihr | recyceltet |
| sie | recycelten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe recycelt |
|---|---|
| du | hast recycelt |
| er/sie/es | hat recycelt |
| wir | haben recycelt |
| ihr | habt recycelt |
| sie | haben recycelt |
Commands
| du | recycele! recycle!, recycel! |
|---|---|
| ihr | recycelt! |
| Sie | recyceln Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte recycelt |
|---|---|
| du | hattest recycelt |
| er/sie/es | hatte recycelt |
| wir | hatten recycelt |
| ihr | hattet recycelt |
| sie | hatten recycelt |
Future
| ich | werde recyceln |
|---|---|
| du | wirst recyceln |
| er/sie/es | wird recyceln |
| wir | werden recyceln |
| ihr | werdet recyceln |
| sie | werden recyceln |
Subjunctive I
| ich | recycele recycle |
|---|---|
| du | recycelst recyclest |
| er/sie/es | recycele recycle |
| wir | recyceln |
| ihr | recycelt recyclet |
| sie | recyceln |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | recycelte |
|---|---|
| du | recyceltest |
| er/sie/es | recycelte |
| wir | recycelten |
| ihr | recyceltet |
| sie | recycelten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | recyceln |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu recyceln |
| present participle | recycelnd |
| past participle | recycelt |
Usage tips
Context clue
When talking about waste, recyclable materials, or raw materials, 'recyceln' (to recycle) refers to processing them into new materials. When talking about texts, ideas, or content, 'recyceln' (to recycle) is usually used figuratively for reusing content that already exists.
EXAMPLE
Die Gemeinde recycelt alte Elektrogeräte.
The municipality recycles old electronic devices.
Die Werbeagentur recycelt eine frühere Kampagnenidee.
The advertising agency recycles an idea from an earlier campaign.
Typical collocations
In environmental and waste-related language, 'recyceln' (to recycle) is often used with materials or waste as the object. Typical collocations include 'Papier recyceln' (to recycle paper), 'Glas recyceln' (to recycle glass), 'Kunststoff recyceln' (to recycle plastic), and 'Verpackungen recyceln' (to recycle packaging).
EXAMPLE
Das Unternehmen recycelt gebrauchte Kunststoffverpackungen.
The company recycles used plastic packaging.
Figurative use
In its figurative meaning, 'recyceln' (to recycle) can be used with texts, ideas, images, or content. The verb then often refers to reusing something with only minor changes.
EXAMPLE
Für den neuen Artikel recycelt die Journalistin Teile eines älteren Textes.
For the new article, the journalist recycles parts of an older text.
In real life
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