Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| eintreten | /ˈʔaɪ̯ntʁeːtən/ |
| reingehen | |
| hineingehen | |
| hereingehen | [hɛˈʁaɪ̯nˌɡeːən] (narrow) [hɛˈʁaɪ̯ŋ-] (narrow) |
| betreten | /bəˈtʁeːtən/ |
| reinkommen | |
| hereinkommen |
The verb 'enter' can be expressed in several ways depending on whether you are physically stepping into a space, joining an organization or using a computer. For the physical act of stepping onto a surface or entering a space, often in a legal or formal sense, betreten is used. If you mean to join a group or organization, such as a political party, use eintreten. When referring specifically to the 'Enter' key on a computer keyboard, use the noun Eingabetaste.
Which one should you use?
The choice between words depends on the direction of movement and the level of formality. hineingehen describes moving into a space that is away from the speaker, while hereingehen describes moving into a space towards the speaker. betreten is a formal term for the physical act of stepping onto a surface or into a room. In contrast, reingehen and reinkommen are colloquial alternatives used in everyday conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
eintreten and betreten are formal options. reingehen is a common, colloquial way to say 'to go in' in everyday conversation and reinkommen is an informal way to say 'to come in', frequently used when inviting someone into a room.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The direction of movement is indicated by the prefix: use hineingehen for movement away from the speaker and hereingehen for movement towards the speaker.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔaɪ̯ntʁeːtən/
Did you know?
- The word eintreten can be used to mean 'to occur' or 'to take place' when talking about a specific event or a case happening.
- In Germany, you will often see signs saying Betreten verboten, which literally means 'stepping is forbidden' rather than 'entry is forbidden'.
- While English uses 'enter' for both people and data, Germans use the noun Eingabe for data entry, which comes from the verb eingeben meaning 'to give into'.
Examples in context
- Wer will, soll eintreten.Whoever wants to should enter.This sentence shows how to use eintreten to express an invitation to enter.Tatoeba #1803972 by al_ex_an_der, translation #7155863 by Kiwi
- Du kannst jetzt reinkommen.You may enter now.This sentence is an example of using the informal reinkommen to invite someone inside.Tatoeba #1657784 by Vortarulo, translation #3330991 by CK
- Wir betreten den Klassenraum.We enter the classroom.This sentence demonstrates the use of betreten for the formal act of entering a room.Tatoeba #5064380 by dispy, translation #5055376 by Objectivesea
- Bitte treten Sie ein!Please enter!
- Das Betreten des Geländes ist verboten.Entering the premises is prohibited.
- Komm rein!Come in!
- Komm doch herein!Do come in!
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix is welcoming Laura into his office.
- FelixHallo Laura, bitte treten Sie ein!Hello Laura, please come in!
- LauraDanke, darf ich hier eintreten?Thanks, may I enter here?
- FelixJa, Sie können einfach so eintreten.Yes, you can just enter.
- LauraVielen Dank, Felix.Thank you very much, Felix.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “enter” translations and entries eintreten, reingehen, hineingehen, hereingehen, betreten, reinkommen, hereinkommen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
