essen
to eat
An irregular verb meaning 'to eat'. Has stem change e→i in present (du isst, er isst) and a strong past tense (aß). The du-form 'isst' looks identical to 'er isst' — context determines meaning.
Conjugation
Present Tense (Präsens)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | esse |
| du | isst |
| er/sie/es | isst |
| wir | essen |
| ihr | esst |
| sie/Sie | essen |
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | aß |
| du | aßt |
| er/sie/es | aß |
| wir | aßen |
| ihr | aßt |
| sie/Sie | aßen |
Perfect (Perfekt)
| Auxiliary | Partizip II |
|---|---|
| haben | gegessen |
z.B.: Ich habe gegessen
Imperative (Imperativ)
| du | ihr | Sie |
|---|---|---|
| iss | esst | essen Sie |
Example Sentences
Was möchtest du essen?
What would you like to eat?
Ich esse jeden Morgen Brot mit Käse.
I eat bread with cheese every morning.
Hast du schon gegessen?
Have you already eaten?
Usage Tips
Don't confuse 'essen' (to eat — for humans) with 'fressen' (to eat — for animals). Using 'fressen' for a person is rude/humorous: 'Er frisst wie ein Tier' (He eats like an animal).
Common Mistakes
Forgetting stem change: 'du esst'
Related Verbs
Related Grammar
Explore More
Helpful tools for anyone learning German. No signup required.
92 grammar topics organized by CEFR level, from A1 beginner to C1 advanced. Each topic includes examples, common mistakes, and learning tips.
See how de-de works alongside popular German learning tools.
Master German sounds with IPA guides and practice tips.
German courses tailored to your goals.
10 daily news from Germany, adapted to your language level
Ready to speak German?
Start your AI-powered German course today. No subscription — just your OpenAI API key (~$0.50/week).