01
sich verloben
to get engaged
To officially promise each other that you will marry in the future.
example
Meine Schwester hat sich letztes Wochenende mit ihrem Freund verlobt.
My sister got engaged to her boyfriend last weekend.
verloben
to get engaged
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Meanings
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verloben' (to get engaged) is an inseparable verb because it begins with the prefix 'ver-'. The prefix remains firmly attached to the verb in all sentence forms and tenses.
EXAMPLE
Sie verlobte sich im Urlaub.
She got engaged on vacation.
Reflexive use
This verb is always used reflexively: 'sich verloben' (to get engaged). The reflexive pronoun must be adjusted to the subject (ich verlobe mich, du verlobst dich, er/sie/es verlobt sich).
EXAMPLE
Wir haben uns vor einem Jahr verlobt.
We got engaged a year ago.
Correct preposition
When you name the person you get engaged to, you use the preposition 'mit' followed by the dative.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich mit seiner langjährigen Freundin verlobt.
He got engaged to his long-time girlfriend.
Word family
The verb 'sich verloben' (to get engaged) belongs to a word family. 'Die Verlobung' is the engagement as an event, and 'der/die Verlobte' is the person you are engaged to.
EXAMPLE
Zur Verlobung bekam sie einen wunderschönen Ring.
She received a beautiful ring for the engagement.
Compare with
verloben vs heiraten
to marry
'heiraten' and 'sich verloben' both belong to the topic of marriage, but they refer to different steps. 'sich verloben' means that two people promise each other that they will marry later. After that, they are not yet married. 'heiraten' means that they actually enter into marriage, usually in an official ceremony. Learners may confuse the words because an engagement often comes before the wedding. The simple difference is: first you get engaged, later you get married.
verloben
Mein Bruder hat sich gestern mit seiner Freundin verlobt.
My brother got engaged to his girlfriend yesterday.
heiraten
Lisa und Tom heiraten im Sommer im Standesamt.
Lisa and Tom are getting married at the registry office in the summer.
In real life
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