01
singen
to sing
To produce melodies and tones with one's own voice, often together with lyrics.
example
Meine Tochter liebt es, im Chor zu singen.
My daughter loves singing in the choir.
singen
to sing
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Singing for someone
To express whom someone is singing for, the dative is often used. The thing being sung, for example 'ein Lied' (a song), is then in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Der Vater singt seinem Kind jeden Abend ein Schlaflied.
The father sings his child a lullaby every evening.
Typical collocations
'Singen' (to sing) is often combined with the object 'ein Lied' (a song). Other common expressions describe the place or group, such as 'im Chor singen' (to sing in the choir), 'in einer Band singen' (to sing in a band), or 'unter der Dusche singen' (to sing in the shower).
EXAMPLE
Er singt seit fünf Jahren in einem bekannten Chor.
He has been singing in a well-known choir for five years.
Context: birds
If the subject of the sentence is a bird (e.g., 'der Vogel' (the bird), 'die Amsel' (the blackbird)), 'singen' (to sing) describes the animal's typical, often melodious sound. It is the standard verb for this.
EXAMPLE
Ich liebe es, im Wald spazieren zu gehen und die Vögel singen zu hören.
I love going for walks in the forest and hearing the birds sing.
Colloquial meaning
In colloquial language, especially in the context of crime, 'singen' (to sing) means that a person confesses to the police or betrays their partners. This use is purely metaphorical.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Verhör hat der Angeklagte endlich gesungen.
After the long interrogation, the defendant finally sang.
Compare with
singen vs verraten
to reveal / betray
'singen' and 'verraten' can both mean that someone gives away information. In this meaning, however, 'singen' is colloquial and fits especially with the police, interrogation, or crime. It sounds as if someone talks after being pressured. 'verraten' is more general: you can reveal a secret or betray a person by acting disloyally. Learners may confuse the words because 'singen' here does not really have anything to do with music. In normal everyday language, you usually say 'verraten'; 'singen' is only used in a special, rather informal context.
singen
Nach zwei Stunden Verhör hat der Verdächtige endlich gesungen.
After two hours of questioning, the suspect finally sang.
verraten
Bitte verrate meiner Schwester nicht, was sie zum Geburtstag bekommt.
Please don't tell my sister what she's getting for her birthday.
In real life
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