teilen
to share
To use, own, or consume something together with one or more people.
EXAMPLE
Wollen wir uns die letzte Pizza teilen?
Should we share the last pizza?
teilen
to share / divide
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Meanings
teilen
to divide
To split something into several pieces, sections, or groups.
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer teilte die Klasse in vier Gruppen auf.
The teacher divided the class into four groups.
teilen
to share
To have an opinion, feeling, or experience in common with someone.
EXAMPLE
Ich teile deine Ansicht, dass wir etwas ändern müssen.
I share your view that we need to change something.
teilen
to divide
In mathematics, to perform the operation of division.
EXAMPLE
Wenn man zwanzig durch vier teilt, erhält man fünf.
If you divide twenty by four, you get five.
teilen
to share
On social networks, to make another user's post or content visible to your own contacts.
EXAMPLE
Dieses lustige Video wurde schon über eine Million Mal geteilt.
This funny video has already been shared over a million times.
sich teilen
to split
To split into different directions or groups.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Brücke teilt sich der Weg in zwei Pfade.
After the bridge, the path splits into two trails.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'teilen' is directly related to the noun 'der Teil' (the part, the portion). When you 'teilen' (share/divide) something, you make several parts out of it.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du den Kuchen in acht gleiche Teile schneiden?
Can you cut the cake into eight equal pieces?
Important prepositions
The preposition after 'teilen' changes the meaning: you share something 'mit' (with) a person, you divide something 'in' (into) pieces or groups, and you divide a number 'durch' (by) another.
EXAMPLE
Er teilt sein Essen mit seinem Freund.
He shares his food with his friend.
Sentence structure and usage pattern
When you share something with someone, the thing is in the accusative and the person with whom you share is in the dative after the preposition 'mit' (with). The structure is: subject + teilt + accusative object + mit + dative object.
EXAMPLE
Ich teile mir ein Zimmer mit meiner Schwester.
I share a room with my sister.
Sharing abstract things
'Teilen' is also used for abstract things such as opinions, interests, or feelings. In this case, it means that you think or feel the same as another person.
EXAMPLE
Ich teile deine Begeisterung für dieses Projekt nicht.
I don't share your enthusiasm for this project.
Modern meaning
In the context of the internet and social media, 'teilen' has a special meaning: to post content (e.g., a photo, an article, a video) on your own profile so that your friends or followers can see it.
EXAMPLE
Wenn dir der Beitrag gefällt, teile ihn bitte mit deinen Freunden.
If you like the post, please share it with your friends.
Reflexive use
The reflexive verb 'sich teilen' means that something splits by itself into two or more directions or parts. It is often used for paths, rivers, or groups.
EXAMPLE
Hinter dem Hügel teilt sich der Wanderweg.
Behind the hill, the hiking trail splits.
Compare with
teilen vs verteilen
to distribute / spread
Teilen emphasizes breaking a whole into several parts or portions. Verteilen, by contrast, emphasizes that the parts reach several people or places. Whoever creates portions teilt them; whoever gives them to the recipients verteilt them.
teilen
Mia teilt den Kuchen in acht gleich große Stücke.
Mia divides the cake into eight equal pieces.
verteilen
Mia verteilt die acht Kuchenstücke an die Gäste.
Mia distributes the eight pieces of cake to the guests.
In real life
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