zurückzahlen
to pay back
To return borrowed money to the creditor.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss meinen Studienkredit in den nächsten zehn Jahren zurückzahlen.
I have to pay back my student loan over the next ten years.
zurückzahlen
to pay back
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Meanings
jemandem etwas zurückzahlen
to pay someone back
To return the favor for a good or bad deed; to respond in the same way.
EXAMPLE
Für diese Beleidigung werde ich es ihm eines Tages heimlich zurückzahlen.
For this insult, I will secretly pay him back one day.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Zurückzahlen' (to pay back) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zurück' comes at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Sie zahlt ihm das geliehene Geld nächste Woche zurück.
She is paying him back the borrowed money next week.
Word composition
The verb is made up of the adverb 'zurück' (back) and the verb 'zahlen' (to pay). The meaning is literal: you return a payment to its origin.
EXAMPLE
Wann kannst du mir die 50 Euro zurückzahlen?
When can you pay me back the 50 euros?
Sentence structure with dative
The person who receives the money or deed back is always in the dative. What is paid back is in the accusative. The structure is: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) zurückzahlen.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss der Bank (Dativ) den Kredit (Akkusativ) zurückzahlen.
I have to pay back the loan (accusative) to the bank (dative).
Typical collocations
In the financial meaning, the verb is typically combined with nouns such as 'Schulden' (debts), 'einen Kredit' (a loan), 'ein Darlehen' (a loan), or simply 'Geld' (money).
EXAMPLE
Er hat all seine Schulden vollständig zurückgezahlt.
He has paid back all his debts in full.
Figurative meaning
In the figurative meaning, 'zurückzahlen' (to pay back) can express both revenge and gratitude. The phrase 'Das zahle ich dir zurück!' (I'll pay you back for that!) is often a threat.
EXAMPLE
Für deine Hilfe werde ich es dir eines Tages zurückzahlen.
I will pay you back for your help one day.
Compare with
zurückzahlen vs erstatten
to reimburse / report
Both verbs refer to returning money. „Erstatten“ is used mainly when reimbursing specific expenses that have already been paid, while „zurückzahlen“ is used especially for returning borrowed money to the person who provided it. „Erstatten“ fits a bill or expense, while „zurückzahlen“ fits a loan.
zurückzahlen
Ich muss meiner Schwester das geliehene Geld nächsten Monat zurückzahlen.
I have to pay back the money I borrowed from my sister next month.
erstatten
Der Arbeitgeber erstattet mir die Kosten für das Zugticket.
My employer reimburses me for the cost of the train ticket.
In real life
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