müde werden
/ˈmyːdə ˈveːʁdən/word by word
To get tired in German is müde werden.
The phrase is used to describe the process of beginning to feel a need for sleep or rest.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective müde (tired) and the verb werden (to become).
Which one should you use?
Use müde werden to describe the process of transitioning into a tired state, whereas müde sein describes the state of already being tired.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the third-person singular present tense, the verb changes from werden to wird (e.g., wird müde). To express the perfect tense for 'got tired' or 'have become tired', use the auxiliary verb sein with the past participle müde geworden, such as in Ich bin müde geworden.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmyːdə ˈveːʁdən/
Did you know?
- While müde werden refers to the physical feeling of tiredness, the word müde can also be used in phrases to describe being 'tired of' a situation, similar to 'fed up' in English.
- The verb werden is a distant relative of the English word 'worth'. Both words evolved from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'to turn' or 'to become'.
- The German phrase müde werden is technically an inchoative construction, which is a grammatical way of describing a change in state or a beginning of an action.
Examples in context
- Er wird müde werden.He'll get tired.This sentence shows how to use müde werden in the future tense.Tatoeba #12282079 by mhr, translation #12282754 by Miktsoanit
- Ich werde müdeI am getting tired
- Ich bin total K.O.I am totally exhausted
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Lukas are studying late in the library.
- LauraLukas, ich werde langsam müde werden.Lukas, I'm starting to get tired.
- LukasIch auch, wir sollten eine Pause machen.Me too, we should take a break.
- LauraWollen wir für heute aufhören?Do we want to stop for today?
- LukasJa, gehen wir nach Hause.Yes, let's go home.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (müde, werden) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries müde, werden, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
