rinnen
to trickle
To flow as a thin stream or in drops as a liquid.
EXAMPLE
Der Schweiß rann ihm über die Stirn.
The sweat trickled down his forehead.
rinnen
to trickle
rinnen – rann – ist geronnen
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
rinnen
to trickle by
To pass, when referring to time. This usage is particularly common in elevated language.
EXAMPLE
Die Stunden rannen, während sie vergeblich auf eine Nachricht wartete.
The hours trickled by while she waited in vain for a message.
jemandem durch die Finger rinnen
to trickle through someone's fingers
To gradually be lost by someone without them being able to hold on to or preserve it. This expression is used especially for money and time.
EXAMPLE
Das Geld rinnt ihm durch die Finger, und am Monatsende hat er nichts mehr übrig.
The money trickles through his fingers, and by the end of the month he has nothing left.
rinnen
to leak
To be leaky and therefore let liquid through. This meaning is used regionally, especially in Austria.
EXAMPLE
Das Dach rinnt und muss dringend repariert werden.
The roof is leaking and urgently needs to be repaired.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry rinnen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | rinne |
|---|---|
| du | rinnst |
| er/sie/es | rinnt |
| wir | rinnen |
| ihr | rinnt |
| sie | rinnen |
Simple past
| ich | rann |
|---|---|
| du | rannst |
| er/sie/es | rann |
| wir | rannen |
| ihr | rannt |
| sie | rannen |
Perfect
with sein
| ich | bin geronnen |
|---|---|
| du | bist geronnen |
| er/sie/es | ist geronnen |
| wir | sind geronnen |
| ihr | seid geronnen |
| sie | sind geronnen |
Commands
| du | rinn! rinne! |
|---|---|
| ihr | rinnt! |
| Sie | rinnen Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | war geronnen |
|---|---|
| du | warst geronnen |
| er/sie/es | war geronnen |
| wir | waren geronnen |
| ihr | wart geronnen |
| sie | waren geronnen |
Future
| ich | werde rinnen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst rinnen |
| er/sie/es | wird rinnen |
| wir | werden rinnen |
| ihr | werdet rinnen |
| sie | werden rinnen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | rinne |
|---|---|
| du | rinnest |
| er/sie/es | rinne |
| wir | rinnen |
| ihr | rinnet |
| sie | rinnen |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | ränne rönne |
|---|---|
| du | rännest rännst, du rönnest, du rönnst |
| er/sie/es | ränne rönne |
| wir | rännen rönnen |
| ihr | rännet rännt, ihr rönnet, ihr rönnt |
| sie | rännen rönnen |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | rinnen |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu rinnen |
| present participle | rinnend |
| past participle | geronnen |
Usage tips
Intransitive verb
'Rinnen' (to trickle) is normally used without an accusative object: A liquid or time is the subject and trickles on its own. Prepositions often indicate where or along what something trickles.
EXAMPLE
Wasser rinnt aus dem beschädigten Schlauch.
Water is trickling from the damaged hose.
Der Regen rinnt durch die Ritzen im Fensterrahmen.
Rain is trickling through the cracks in the window frame.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of flowing, 'rinnen' (to trickle) is often used with liquids and parts of the body. Typical collocations include 'Schweiß rinnt über die Stirn' (sweat trickles down the forehead), 'Tränen rinnen über die Wangen' (tears trickle down the cheeks), and 'Wasser rinnt durch die Ritzen' (water trickles through the cracks).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Lauf rann ihm der Schweiß über den Nacken.
After the long run, sweat trickled down his neck.
Elevated language
When 'rinnen' (to trickle) is used for the passing of time, it mainly belongs to elevated or literary language. The subject is often a time expression such as 'die Stunden' (the hours), 'die Tage' (the days), or 'die Jahre' (the years).
EXAMPLE
Die Jahre rannen, ohne dass er seinen Plan verwirklichte.
The years trickled by without him putting his plan into action.
Fixed expression
In the expression 'jemandem durch die Finger rinnen' (to trickle through someone's fingers), the person affected is in the dative. The words 'Geld' (money) or 'Zeit' (time) particularly often appear before 'durch die Finger'.
EXAMPLE
Wenn sie nicht aufpasst, rinnt ihr das Geld durch die Finger.
If she isn't careful, the money will trickle through her fingers.
Regional usage
The meaning 'undicht sein und Flüssigkeit durchlassen' (to be leaky and let liquid through) is used especially in Austria. In this case, the subject is usually an object such as a roof, pipe, or container.
EXAMPLE
Das alte Rohr rinnt seit gestern und überschwemmt den Keller.
The old pipe has been leaking since yesterday and is flooding the basement.
In real life
Loading video examples...