zahlen
Meaning and Usage
"Zahlen" in German means "to pay" or "to count". It is used both in the context of paying for something and in the sense of counting numbers.
Linguistic Analysis
"Zahlen" is a verb. It is related to the noun "Zahl" (number), and it comes from the Old High German word "zalōn". The word does not contain a prefix or suffix.
Comparisons between German and English
The German word "zahlen" has two main meanings: "to pay" and "to count", whereas in English, "to pay" is typically expressed by "to pay" or "to pay for" and "to count" is simply "to count".
Cultural Context
In German-speaking countries, paying in cash is still very common, and the verb "zahlen" is frequently used in this context, whether it's at a restaurant or a store. Additionally, the German language has specific words to talk about payment methods, such as "bar zahlen" (to pay in cash) or "mit Karte zahlen" (to pay by card).
Example Sentences
- Ich muss die Rechnung zahlen. (I have to pay the bill.)
- Kannst du bis zehn zählen? (Can you count to ten?)
Memory Tips
To remember the meaning of "zahlen", associate it with the English word "tally" (to count) and "sale" (to pay).
Additional Vocabulary
- die Zahl (the number)
- die Bezahlung (the payment)
- bezahlen (to pay)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
N/A
Conjugation (for verbs)
- Ich zahle (I pay)
- Du zahlst (you pay)
- Er/sie/es zahlt (he/she/it pays)
- Wir zahlen (we pay)
- Ihr zahlt (you pay - plural)
- Sie zahlen (they pay)