Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| sich ändern | /zɪç ˈʔɛndɐn/ (word by word) |
| sich verändern | /zɪç fərˈɛndərn/ (word by word) |
| sich wandeln | /zɪç ˈvandl̩n/ (word by word) |
While the verb ändern is the standard way to express 'to change', you may encounter various nouns for the concept: Änderung is a versatile term used in both formal and informal contexts, while Veränderung is more common in formal settings. If you are discussing a change in procedure, system or approach, the term Umstellung is used. For a modification, you can use Abänderung and for a change in the sense of evolution, the term Entwicklung is appropriate.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the three forms depends on the nature of the change. sich ändern is the most neutral and common way to describe a change in state, situation or opinion. sich verändern often implies a more profound, physical or long-term transformation, such as a change in a person's character or appearance. sich wandeln is a more literary or formal term, typically used to describe gradual, fundamental shifts in social structures, landscapes or eras. Note that these are distinct from wechseln, which means to exchange or swap one thing for another.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When these verbs are used to mean 'to become different', they are reflexive and require the reflexive pronoun sich.
How do you pronounce it?
/zɪç ˈʔɛndɐn/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use wechseln when they actually mean sich ändern. Remember that wechseln means to exchange or swap, whereas the reflexive forms are used when something becomes different.
Did you know?
- The word wandeln is a linguistic relative of the English word 'wander', as both describe a form of movement or shifting state.
- The verb ändern is actually rooted in the word for 'other'. It comes from the Middle High German term for 'different' or 'other', meaning to make something 'other' than it was.
- The verb wandeln has ancient roots in the Proto-West Germanic word for 'turning' or 'walking', which is why it is used for gradual shifts.
Examples in context
- Tom muß sich ändern.Tom has to change.This sentence shows how to use sich ändern to express a necessity for a person to change.Tatoeba #12549920 by Waldelfe, translation #12548976 by CK
- Was wird sich ändern?What'll change?This is an example of asking what will change using sich ändern.Tatoeba #8191834 by driini, translation #4496504 by CK
- Das wird sich ändern.That'll change.This is an example of stating that a situation will change using sich ändern.Tatoeba #11956859 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2111471 by CK
- Die Firma durchläuft einen Wandel.The company is going through a period of change
- Wir führen eine Umstellung unseres Produktionsprozesses durch.We are making changes to our production process
- Ich muss eine Änderung an unseren Plänen vornehmen.I need to make a change to our plans
- Ich habe im letzten Jahr viele Veränderungen durchgemacht.I've gone through a lot of changes in the past year
- Seitdem hat sich viel gewandelt.Since then, a lot has changed
- KlimawandelClimate change
- Change-ManagementChange management
- Ich möchte meine Karriere ändern.I want to change my career
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “change” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (sich, ändern, verändern, wandeln) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sich, verändern, wandeln, ändern, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
