The Verbs sein and haben
Sein (to be) and haben (to have) are the two most important verbs in German. You'll use them in almost every conversation — to introduce yourself, describe people and things, talk about age, and say what you own. They're also the building blocks for past tenses later on, so mastering them now pays off twice.
The catch? Both verbs are irregular, which means their forms don't follow the normal patterns. The good news: there are only six forms each, and with a little practice they'll become automatic. Let's learn them properly from the start.
Conjugation of sein (to be)
Sein is the most irregular verb in German — its forms look nothing like the infinitive. You simply have to memorize them:
| Pronoun | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bin | I am |
| du | bist | you are (informal) |
| er/sie/es | ist | he/she/it is |
| wir | sind | we are |
| ihr | seid | you are (plural, informal) |
| sie/Sie | sind | they are / you are (formal) |
Use sein for identity, nationality, profession, feelings, and qualities: Ich bin Lehrerin. (I am a teacher.) Note that wir, sie (they), and formal Sie all share the same form: sind.
Conjugation of haben (to have)
Haben is only slightly irregular: the b disappears in the du and er/sie/es forms.
| Pronoun | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | habe | I have |
| du | hast | you have (informal) |
| er/sie/es | hat | he/she/it has |
| wir | haben | we have |
| ihr | habt | you have (plural, informal) |
| sie/Sie | haben | they have / you have (formal) |
Use haben for possession and family: Ich habe einen Bruder. (I have a brother.) Watch out: it's du hast and er hat — not du habst or er habt.
When German uses haben but English uses 'to be'
Several everyday expressions use haben in German where English uses to be. Memorize these as fixed phrases:
| German | Literal | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ich habe Hunger. | I have hunger. | I am hungry. |
| Ich habe Durst. | I have thirst. | I am thirsty. |
| Er hat Angst. | He has fear. | He is afraid. |
| Wir haben Glück. | We have luck. | We are lucky. |
| Sie hat Recht. | She has right. | She is right. |
Age, however, uses sein in German: Ich bin 25 Jahre alt. (literally: I am 25 years old) — the same as English, but different from French or Spanish, where age uses 'to have'.
📖 Examples
Ich bin müde.
I am tired.
Du bist sehr nett.
You are very nice.
Er ist Student.
He is a student.
Wir sind aus Deutschland.
We are from Germany.
Ich habe eine Schwester.
I have a sister.
Du hast ein schönes Auto.
You have a nice car.
Sie hat heute keine Zeit.
She has no time today.
Habt ihr Hunger?
Are you (all) hungry?
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Ich bin hungrig. (when meaning 'I'm hungry' in everyday speech)Ich habe Hunger.
German prefers haben + noun for hunger, thirst, and fear. 'Ich bin hungrig' is grammatically possible but sounds unnatural in everyday conversation — native speakers say 'Ich habe Hunger.'
Er habt einen Hund.Er hat einen Hund.
English speakers often build 'habt' for er/sie/es by analogy with regular verbs. But haben drops the b: du hast, er hat. The form 'habt' belongs only to ihr (ihr habt).
Du bist Recht.Du hast Recht.
'You are right' translates with haben, not sein: Recht haben is a fixed expression meaning 'to be right.'
Wir seid Freunde.Wir sind Freunde.
Learners mix up 'seid' and 'sind' because they sound similar. 'Seid' goes only with ihr (ihr seid); wir and sie/Sie take 'sind.'
✏️ Exercises
Test your understanding. Click an option or type your answer, then check.
Ich ___ Lehrer von Beruf.
Du ___ einen Bruder, oder?
Sie (= she) ___ sehr freundlich.
Wir ___ zwei Katzen.
___ ihr aus Österreich?
Which sentence means 'I am hungry'?
Mein Bruder ___ 15 Jahre alt. (sein)
Ich ___ heute viel Zeit. (haben)
___ du müde? (sein)
Ihr ___ ein großes Haus. (haben)