kommen
/ˈkɔmən/
The English phrase 'come' is translated into German as kommen. Wiktionary also lists ankommen.
Meaning: to arrive, to appear (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| kommen | /ˈkɔmən/ |
| ankommen | /ˈʔanˌkɔmən/ |
Which one should you use?
While kommen is the general verb for 'to come', the separable verb ankommen is used specifically to mean 'to arrive' at a destination.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present form is kommt. The simple past tense is kam. To form perfect tenses, use the past participle gekommen with the auxiliary verb sein.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkɔmən/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Because kommen uses the auxiliary verb sein in the perfect tense, avoid using hat (has) with gekommen. Instead of saying something 'has come' with 'hat', you must use 'ist' (is).
Did you know?
- In German, the phrase komm mal her is often used to call a pet or a child, where mal serves as a modal particle to soften the command.
- The verb ankommen is used in the idiomatic phrase darauf ankommen, which means 'to depend on' or 'to be the deciding factor'.
- The German phrase come on is often translated as komm schon, but schon actually means 'already'.
Examples in context
- Wo kommen Sie her?Where do you come from?This sentence shows how to use kommen when asking about someone's origin.Tatoeba #787422 by Hans_Adler, translation #17150 by CK
- Kommen Sie an Bord!Come aboard.This sentence uses kommen to invite someone aboard.Tatoeba #4236400 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2111935 by CK
- Der Tag wird kommen.That day shall come.This sentence demonstrates the use of kommen regarding a future event.Tatoeba #1900556 by Tamy, translation #44579 by CM
- Frau Meier, kommen Sie bitte in mein Büro.Mrs. Meier, please come to my office.
- Kommen Sie herein und nehmen Sie Platz.Come in and have a seat, please.
- Komm bitte schnell, das Essen ist fertig!Come quickly, dinner is ready!
- Komm doch bitte rein und setz dich.Please come in and have a seat.
- Kumm doch nei!Come in (in the southern German dialect).
- 1980 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are talking about a delayed delivery.
- MaximilianWann wird das Paket kommen?When will the package come?
- JuliaEs wird heute noch kommen.It will come today.
- MaximilianIch hoffe, es wird bald kommen.I hope it comes soon.
- JuliaKeine Sorge, Maximilian, es wird kommen.Don't worry, Maximilian, it will come.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “come” translations and entries kommen, ankommen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
