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führen. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
führen, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
führen in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
führen you have here. The definition of the word
führen will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
führen, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
German
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfyːʁən/, , (standard)
- IPA(key): /fyːɐ̯n/, /fʏɐ̯n/ (common speech)
- Hyphenation: füh‧ren
Etymology 1
From Middle High German vüeren, from Old High German fuoren, from Proto-West Germanic *fōrijan, from Proto-Germanic *fōrijaną, originally the causative of faran (“to proceed”).
Verb
führen (weak, third-person singular present führt, past tense führte, past participle geführt, auxiliary haben)
- (transitive) to lead
- (transitive, formal) to carry, to sell
- Der Laden führt keine Zigaretten. ― The shop doesn't carry cigarettes.
- (transitive) to conduct some activity or process, to hold (a discussion, a negotiation), to have (a conversation), to lead (one's life), to wage (a war or campaign), to fight (a war)
- Regie führen ― to direct (a film)
1919, Walther Kabel, Irrende Seelen, Werner Dietsch Verlag, page 108:Unsere Unterredung wurde jetzt im leichten Plauderton geführt wie ein harmloses Gespräch unter guten Bekannten.- Our discussion was now held in a light conversational tone like a harmless chat between friendly acquaintances.
- 2022 January 3, Tagesanzeiger, “Verbreitung von Atomwaffen soll verhindert werden":
«Ein Atomkrieg kann nicht gewonnen werden und darf nie geführt werden», erklärten die fünf ständigen Mitglieder des UNO-Sicherheitsrates.- "A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," the five permanent members of the UN Security Council declared.
- (transitive) to wield (a weapon)
- Die Heldin führte ein mächtiges Schwert. ― The heroine wielded a mighty sword.
- (transitive) to operate (a vehicle)
- (transitive, chiefly Austria, Bavaria, dated everywhere else) to drive someone; to transport someone or something
- (reflexive) to behave oneself, to conduct oneself (of prisoner, student or other person under supervision)
- (intransitive) (of an athlete or sports team) to be in the lead
Conjugation
Conjugation of
führen (
weak, auxiliary
haben)
1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.
Composed forms of
führen (
weak, auxiliary
haben)
Derived terms
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Verb
führen
- first/third-person plural preterite subjunctive of fahren
Further reading
- “führen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “führen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
- “führen” in Duden online
- “führen” in OpenThesaurus.de