sich verabreden
to arrange to meet
To arrange an appointment or meeting with someone.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben uns für morgen Abend im Kino verabredet.
We arranged to meet at the cinema tomorrow evening.
verabreden
to arrange / to agree
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Meanings
verabreden
to agree on
To decide or agree on something together.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder hatten verabredet, sich nach der Schule im Park zu treffen.
The children had agreed to meet in the park after school.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The verb 'verabreden' (to arrange / to agree) is inseparable. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb 'abreden' in all sentence forms and tenses and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Sie verabredete ein Treffen mit ihrer Chefin.
She arranged a meeting with her boss.
Context clue
Whether the verb is used reflexively ('sich verabreden' — to arrange to meet) or non-reflexively ('verabreden' — to agree on) indicates the exact meaning. With 'sich,' it is about arranging a meeting between people. Without 'sich,' it is about agreeing on a thing or a plan.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben uns auf einen Kaffee verabredet.
We arranged to meet for a coffee.
Reflexive use
When you arrange a meeting, the verb is reflexive: 'sich verabreden' (to arrange to meet). The person you are meeting is connected with the preposition 'mit' and the dative.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mich mit einem alten Freund zum Mittagessen verabredet.
I arranged to meet an old friend for lunch.
Transitive use
When something is agreed on, such as a plan or a signal, 'verabreden' (to agree on) is used transitively with an accusative object or a subordinate clause with 'dass' or 'ob.'
EXAMPLE
Die Spione hatten ein geheimes Zeichen verabredet.
The spies had agreed on a secret sign.
Compare with
verabreden vs vereinbaren
to agree / reconcile
Both verbs can refer to reaching a mutual agreement. Vereinbaren is more general and is especially common in the phrase einen Termin vereinbaren (to arrange an appointment). Sich verabreden often sounds more natural for meetings between people and is typically used in sich zu einem Treffen verabreden (to arrange to meet).
verabreden
Die Kollegen verabredeten sich zu einem Gespräch im Café.
The colleagues arranged to meet at the café for a conversation.
vereinbaren
Die Kollegen vereinbarten einen Termin für ein Gespräch im Café.
The colleagues agreed on a time to talk at the café.
In real life
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