bleiben vs verbleiben
German word comparison
Listen to bleiben
Listen to verbleiben
| bleiben | verbleiben |
|---|---|
BLEI-ben verb | ˌfɛɐ̯ˈblaɪbn̩ verb |
| to stay; to remain (in a place or state) | to remain, to be left (after something); to stay behind |
How they differ
Verbleiben often stresses what is left over or what remains after an action or decision, whereas bleiben is a neutral, general verb for staying. Verbleiben is also more likely in formal or administrative contexts (e.g. what remains to be done).
When to use each
When to use bleiben: Prefer bleiben for general, everyday statements about staying in a place or state.
When to use verbleiben: Prefer verbleiben when you want to emphasize 'what remains' after an event or in formal/written contexts.
Side-by-side examples
- Nach dem Treffen bleiben drei Aufgaben übrig.
(After the meeting, three tasks remain.) - Nach dem Treffen verbleiben drei Aufgaben.
(After the meeting, three tasks remain.)
Register & nuance: Verbleiben is more formal and common in written, official, or administrative language compared with the neutral bleiben.