bestellen vs aufgeben
German word comparison
Listen to bestellen
Listen to aufgeben
| bestellen | aufgeben |
|---|---|
/be-STEL-len/ verb | /[ˈaʊ̯fɡeːbn̩]/ verb |
| to order (goods, food) or to request/deliver by order; also to reserve (in some contexts) | to place or submit an order; to dispatch/send off |
How they differ
Aufgeben emphasizes the act of submitting or initiating an order or shipment (the procedural step), while bestellen focuses on the act of ordering or requesting the item itself. Aufgeben often appears in the collocation 'eine Bestellung aufgeben' and highlights that the order has been issued.
When to use each
When to use bestellen: Use bestellen when you want to say you ordered something (goods, food) or asked for it to be delivered.
When to use aufgeben: Use aufgeben when you want to stress that you placed or submitted the order (e.g., at a shop, online or to a carrier).
Side-by-side examples
- Ich habe das neue Buch gestern bestellt.
(I ordered the new book yesterday.) - Ich habe die Bestellung gestern aufgegeben.
(I placed/issued the order yesterday.)
Register & nuance: Both are neutral; aufgeben is slightly more formal/transactional and common in business contexts.