spielen
to play
To occupy oneself for fun with a game, toy, or activity, often used for children.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder spielen draußen im Sandkasten.
The children are playing outside in the sandbox.
spielen
to play
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Meanings
spielen
to play
To practice a sport according to certain rules.
EXAMPLE
Jeden Samstag spielen wir mit Freunden Fußball.
Every Saturday we play soccer with friends.
spielen
to play
To use a musical instrument to produce sounds or melodies.
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder spielt seit fünf Jahren Gitarre.
My brother has been playing guitar for five years.
spielen
to play
To portray a role in a play, film, or series; to act.
EXAMPLE
Dieser Schauspieler spielt oft den Bösewicht.
This actor often plays the villain.
eine Rolle spielen
to play a role
An idiom meaning to be important, relevant, or significant.
EXAMPLE
Bei dieser Entscheidung spielt Geld keine Rolle.
Money doesn't play a role in this decision.
spielen
to be set
The plot of a book, film, or play is located in a certain place or time.
EXAMPLE
Der Film spielt im mittelalterlichen Japan.
The film is set in medieval Japan.
spielen
to gamble
To take part in a game of chance in order to win money.
EXAMPLE
Er spielt regelmäßig Lotto in der Hoffnung auf den großen Gewinn.
He regularly plays the lottery in the hope of a big win.
mit dem Gedanken spielen
to toy with the idea
To consider an idea or plan without having already decided on it.
EXAMPLE
Ich spiele mit dem Gedanken, nächstes Jahr eine Weltreise zu machen.
I'm toying with the idea of taking a trip around the world next year.
verrückt spielen
to act up
Colloquial for a device, body part, or system functioning incorrectly or unpredictably.
EXAMPLE
Mein Magen spielt heute total verrückt.
My stomach is really acting up today.
Usage tips
Distinguishing meanings
The exact meaning of 'spielen' depends strongly on the object or preposition. A musical instrument or a sport is used directly in the accusative. A setting takes 'in'. An idea that one is considering is used with 'mit dem Gedanken' (with the thought).
EXAMPLE
Sie spielt Geige.
She plays violin.
Playing with toys
When children (or adults too) occupy themselves with a toy or another person, the preposition 'mit + dative' is used.
EXAMPLE
Der Junge spielt mit seinem neuen Auto.
The boy is playing with his new car.
Playing sports
With most ball sports and board games, 'spielen' is used directly with the accusative object. You don't need a preposition.
EXAMPLE
Spielst du gerne Basketball?
Do you like playing basketball?
Playing instruments
When talking about musical instruments, 'spielen' is connected directly with the instrument in the accusative. You don't need a preposition as in English.
EXAMPLE
Er lernt seit einem Jahr, Gitarre zu spielen.
He has been learning to play guitar for a year.
Portraying a role
When an actor portrays a character, that character is the direct accusative object of 'spielen'. Typical objects are: 'die Hauptrolle' (the leading role), 'eine Nebenrolle' (a supporting role), 'den Helden' (the hero), or 'den Bösewicht' (the villain).
EXAMPLE
In seinem nächsten Film spielt er einen Detektiv.
In his next film, he plays a detective.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'eine Rolle spielen' means 'to be important' or 'to be relevant'. The negation 'keine Rolle spielen' is also very common and means 'to be unimportant'.
EXAMPLE
Das Alter spielt für diese Position keine Rolle.
Age doesn't play a role for this position.
Setting
To describe the place or time of the plot of a film, book, or play, you use the structure 'spielen in + dative'.
EXAMPLE
Der Roman spielt im Paris des 19. Jahrhunderts.
The novel is set in 19th-century Paris.
Gambling prepositions
In the context of gambling, you use 'spielen um + accusative' to name the stake or prize. You can also use 'auf + accusative' to say what someone is betting on.
EXAMPLE
Sie spielen jeden Freitag Poker um Geld.
They play poker for money every Friday.
Fixed expression
The expression 'mit dem Gedanken spielen, etwas zu tun' (to toy with the idea of doing something) means that one is considering an idea or plan but is still undecided. The preposition 'mit' and the infinitive construction with 'zu' are fixed components.
EXAMPLE
Sie spielt mit dem Gedanken, nach Australien auszuwandern.
She is toying with the idea of emigrating to Australia.
Colloquial expression
The phrase 'verrückt spielen' (to act up) is colloquial. It is used for devices, technical systems, or even body parts that are not functioning properly or are behaving unpredictably.
EXAMPLE
Mein Computer spielt in letzter Zeit ständig verrückt.
My computer has been constantly acting up lately.
Compare with
machendarstellentreibenstattfindenbedienenaufführenblasenzockenagierenauflegenmitspielenverkörpernmusizierenrockenkicken
spielen vs machen
to do / make
Machen and spielen can overlap when talking about sports activities. Machen is used generally with sports, while spielen is used for a specific sport with rules, such as soccer. Use machen for the activity as a whole and spielen when the specific game or sport is the focus.
spielen
Am Samstag spielen wir im Park Fußball.
We are playing soccer in the park on Saturday.
machen
Am Samstag machen wir im Park Sport.
We are doing sports in the park on Saturday.
In real life
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