zahlen vs begleichen
German word comparison
Listen to zahlen
Listen to begleichen
| zahlen | begleichen |
|---|---|
ZA-len verb | [bəˈɡlaɪ̯çən] verb |
| to pay (money); to settle a bill or cost | to settle (a bill, debt, invoice); to clear an outstanding payment |
How they differ
Begleichen implies settling or clearing an outstanding obligation and often carries a nuance of completion (making a debt or invoice fully paid). Zahlen is more general and can simply mean paying an amount without the implied finality of 'settling' a debt.
When to use each
When to use zahlen: Prefer zahlen for routine payments or when you simply state that money is being given.
When to use begleichen: Prefer begleichen when you want to emphasize that an outstanding bill, debt, or invoice is being settled or cleared.
Side-by-side examples
- Kannst du die Rechnung jetzt zahlen?
(Can you pay the bill now?) - Kannst du die Rechnung jetzt begleichen?
(Can you settle the bill now?)
Register & nuance: Mildly more formal than zahlen; common in written German (invoices, formal requests) and in contexts emphasizing settlement of debts.