abnehmen

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German

Etymology

From Middle High German abenemen, from Old High German abaneman, from Proto-Germanic *abanemaną. Equivalent to ab (off) +‎ nehmen (to take). Cognate with Dutch afnemen.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈapˌneːmən/, , ,
  • (file)
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: ab‧neh‧men

Verb

abnehmen (class 4 strong, third-person singular present nimmt ab, past tense nahm ab, past participle abgenommen, past subjunctive nähme ab, auxiliary haben)

  1. to take off (remove something that is attached to something or on top of it)
    Synonyms: abmachen, abheben, entfernen, hochheben, lösen, losmachen, wegmachen, wegnehmen
    den Deckel von einem Topf abnehmento take off the lid from a pot
    die Brille abnehmento take off one's glasses
    1. (transitive) to shave off (a beard, especially a full beard or moustache)
      Synonyms: abrasieren, wegmachen
    2. (transitive) to amputate (a limb)
      Synonyms: amputieren, entfernen
    3. (transitive or intransitive) to pick up (the phone)
      Synonyms: abheben, drangehen, rangehen
  2. (transitive) to take (a sample of, especially blood)
    Synonym: entnehmen
    Blut abnehmento draw blood
  3. (transitive, ditransitive with dative giving the owner) to take away, to take over, to take off (remove something from someone's hands or possession)
    Synonyms: an sich nehmen, entgegennehmen, übernehmen, mitnehmen, wegnehmen
    Wenn das Paket zu schwer ist, kann ich es dir abnehmen.If the parcel is too heavy, I can take it from you.
    Die Kinder wurden der Familie vom Jugendamt abgenommen.The children were taken away from the family by the youth welfare office.
    Diese Bürde kann dir niemand abnehmen.No one can take this burden off you.
    1. to buy (something from); usually implying a business deal rather than mere shopping
      Synonym: abkaufen
    2. to win, steal, or confiscate (something from)
      Synonyms: abgewinnen, beschlagnahmen, einbehalten, klauen, konfiszieren, rauben, stehlen
  4. (transitive, usually with dative giving the speaker) to hear and accept (a promise, oath, confession from)
    Synonyms: annehmen, entgegennehmen, hören
    Der Priester nahm ihr die Beichte ab.The priest received her confession.
    1. (informal) to believe (someone something)
      Das nehme ich ihr nicht ab!.I don't believe her.
      Synonyms: glauben, abkaufen
  5. (transitive) to be presented with something and examine it
    Synonyms: kontrollieren, nachprüfen, prüfen
    Ich bin schon ausgezogen, aber der Vermieter hat die Wohnung noch nicht abgenommen.I've already moved out, but the landlord hasn't checked the apartment yet.
    1. (military) to inspect (a parade)
  6. (intransitive) to decrease, to diminish
    Synonyms: sich mindern, sich vermindern, sich verringern, sich abschwächen, nachlassen, schwinden, sinken, absinken
    Antonym: zunehmen
    Die Schwellung nimmt ab.The swelling is decreasing.
    Der Jahresgewinn hat abgenommen.The annual profits have decreased.
    1. to lose weight
      Ich habe letzten Monat einen Kilo abgenommen.I lost one kilo last month.
    2. (of the moon) to wane
      Der Mond nimmt gerade ab.The moon is currently waning.

Conjugation

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

  • abnehmen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • abnehmen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • abnehmen” in Duden online
  • abnehmen” in OpenThesaurus.de