German · Everyday Verbs
"to go" in German: gehen
gehen
Note: by vehicle: fahren
To go on foot in German is gehen. If you go by vehicle, use fahren instead. Present forms include ich gehe and du gehst. Direction often needs wohin.
Leaving home
Ich gehe jetzt zur Arbeit.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce gehen
Say it
GAY-en
/ˈɡeːən/
GAY-en. The ge is like "gay" without a strong y, and -en is soft. Stress the first syllable.
"to go" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| gehen | to go (on foot) Walking or general going. | Walking or general going. |
| fahren | to go by vehicle Car, bus, train, bike. | Car, bus, train, bike. |
| weggehen | to leave / go out Leaving a place or going out socially. | Leaving a place or going out socially. |
| spazieren gehen | to go for a walk Leisure walking. | Leisure walking. |
How to use gehen in real life
- 1Leaving home
Ich gehe jetzt zur Arbeit.
I'm going to work now.
Zu + dative for many destinations.
- 2Asking plans
Wohin gehst du nach dem Kurs?
Where are you going after the class?
Wohin asks about direction.
- 3Suggesting a walk
Sollen wir ein bisschen gehen?
Shall we walk a bit?
Short and natural among friends.
Mistakes English speakers make with gehen
Incorrect: Ich gehe mit dem Bus.
Correct: Ich fahre mit dem Bus.
Public transport uses fahren. Gehen is for walking.
Incorrect: Ich gehe nach Hause zu Fuß gehen.
Correct: Ich gehe zu Fuß nach Hause.
Don't stack gehen twice. Zu Fuß already marks walking.
Good to know
Germans are precise about gehen vs. fahren. Saying Ich gehe nach Berlin when you fly or take a train sounds odd. Use fliegen for planes and fahren for ground vehicles.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Leaving a museum together
ChatPal
Gehst du schon nach Hause?
Are you going home already?
You
Bald. Zuerst gehe ich noch einen Kaffee holen.
Soon. First I'm going to get a coffee.
ChatPal
Dann gehe ich mit. Hab ich Lust.
Then I'll go with you. I feel like it.
You
Super, lass uns gehen!
Great, let's go!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to go" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to go" in German
When do I use gehen vs. fahren?
Gehen for walking. Fahren for cars, buses, trains, and bikes.
How do you say I'm going home?
Ich gehe nach Hause (on foot) or Ich fahre nach Hause (by vehicle).
What is the past of gehen?
Often bin gegangen: Ich bin nach Hause gegangen.
Does gehen mean to walk only?
Mostly on foot, but also "to work out" as in zum Sport gehen, and many fixed phrases.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
