Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| meinen | /ˈmaɪ̯nən/ |
| beabsichtigen | /bəˈapsɪçtɪɡən/ |
When 'mean' refers to what a person intends to say or the opinion they are expressing, use meinen. If you are referring to the intention to perform an action, beabsichtigen is also an option.
Which one should you use?
There is a significant distinction between meinen and bedeuten. Use meinen when discussing what a person intends to communicate or what their opinion is. Use bedeuten when a word, symbol or situation signifies a specific concept or definition.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern Germany, particularly in Bavaria, the word giftig is used to describe someone who is being mean or nasty.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The simple past tense of meinen is meinte. The past participle is gemeint, which is used alongside the auxiliary verb haben.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmaɪ̯nən/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often incorrectly use bedeuten when they actually intend to ask about a person's opinion or intention. In those cases, you should use meinen instead.
When do people say it?
In informal conversation, the plural noun Gemeinheiten can be used to refer to mean actions or pranks.
Did you know?
- The German word meinen is a direct relative of the English word 'moan'. Both share a common root that once described the act of lamenting.
- In German, if you say Das ist gemein!, you are usually reacting to an unfair situation rather than a person's personality. It is the standard way to say 'That's not fair!' when playing a game or arguing.
- The word Gemeinheit can refer to a 'mean' act, but in older texts, it refers to 'the common people' or the general public.
Examples in context
- Was könnte er meinen?What could he mean?This example shows how to ask about a person's possible intention using meinen.Tatoeba #1521288 by al_ex_an_der, translation #914033 by Jane_Austen
- Was meinen Sie damit?What do you mean by it?This example uses meinen to ask for clarification on what someone intends by a statement.Tatoeba #2263924 by Tamy, translation #42964 by Dejo
- Meinen sie das ernst?Do they mean it?This example uses meinen to ask if a group of people is being serious.Tatoeba #7769535 by Yorwba, translation #10794555 by sundown
- Es war gemein, wie er sie behandelt hat.It was mean how he treated her.
- Das ist eine gehässige Bemerkung.That is a mean-spirited remark.
- Das war eine boshafte Tat.That was a mean act.
- Das war aber gemein von dir!That was mean of you!
- Er hat einen fiesen Kommentar abgegeben.He made a mean comment.
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Sarah are discussing an old text.
- LukasWas sollte der Autor hiermit meinen?What was the author supposed to mean by this?
- SarahIch glaube, er meinte eine Warnung.I believe he meant a warning.
- LukasMeinen Sie wirklich, dass es so ist?Do you really mean that it is so?
- SarahJa, das muss er so meinen.Yes, that is what he must mean.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mean” translations and entries meinen, beabsichtigen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beabsichtigen, meinen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
