01
reichen
to hand
To give something to someone with your hand, often over a short distance.
example
Könntest du mir bitte das Salz reichen?
Could you please hand me the salt?
reichen
to hand / to suffice
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clues
The sentence structure helps distinguish the meanings. A dative person points to 'geben' (to give), the preposition 'für' (for) to 'genug sein' (to be enough), and 'bis' (to / until) to 'sich erstrecken' (to extend).
EXAMPLE
Reich mir bitte den Zucker.
Please hand me the sugar.
Dative construction
In the meaning 'geben' (to give), the person receiving something is always in the dative. The object being given is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Der Kellner reichte uns die Speisekarte.
The waiter handed us the menu.
Use with 'für'
To express what something is enough for, the preposition 'für' (for) followed by the accusative is used. However, the verb can also stand without a complement.
EXAMPLE
Meine Energie reicht heute nicht mehr für Sport.
My energy no longer suffices for sports today.
Use with 'bis'
To describe the extent or range of something, 'reichen' (to reach) is often used with the preposition 'bis' (to / until) or the combination 'von ... bis' (from ... to).
EXAMPLE
Der Wald reicht bis an den Fluss.
The forest reaches all the way to the river.
Colloquial exclamation
The expression 'Es reicht!' (That’s enough!) is an emotional exclamation that expresses impatience or anger. It means something like 'Stop it!' or 'I’ve had enough!'.
EXAMPLE
Ruhe jetzt, es reicht! Ich möchte schlafen.
Quiet now, that’s enough! I want to sleep.
Compare with
reichen vs geben
to give
'geben' and 'reichen' can both mean that one person gives something to another person by hand. 'geben' is more general and mainly says that something comes to another person. 'reichen' is used especially when the other person needs something at that moment and you hand it to them over a short distance. It often sounds a bit more concrete and polite in a direct situation. Learners may confuse the words because the action is similar. If only the transfer is important, 'geben' fits; if the movement by hand toward someone is emphasized, 'reichen' is a better fit.
reichen
Nach dem Unterricht reicht Alina ihrer Freundin die Jacke vom Stuhl.
After class, Alina hands her friend the jacket from the chair.
geben
Aylin gibt ihrem Bruder in der Pause den Hammer.
Aylin gives her brother the hammer during the break.
In real life
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