warte
The English phrase "wait" is translated into German as warte.
This verb is used to express delaying an action until a specific event occurs. When you are waiting for a person or a thing, you must use the preposition auf followed by the accusative case.
Meaning: delay until some event (verb)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form warte serves as the singular imperative for informal situations. The form wartet is the plural imperative for informal situations. For a polite or formal imperative, use warten Sie. The simple past (Präteritum) form is wartete, and the past participle used for perfect tenses is gewartet.
Did you know?
- In German, the word Warte also refers to a watchtower or lookout post. This noun shares the same root as the verb because the original purpose of a watchtower was to wait and keep watch.
- The expression Warten Sie nur! is not a request for patience. It is a common way to threaten someone, similar to saying 'Just you wait!' in English.
- To say 'wait a moment' formally, you should say Warten Sie einen Augenblick, using the word for 'blink of an eye' instead of 'moment'.
Examples in context
- Warte es nur ab!Just you wait and see.This sentence shows how to use the form warte in an idiomatic expression.Tatoeba #3410589 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3409353 by CK
- Ich warte auf Sie.I will wait for you.This sentence demonstrates using the form warte to express waiting for someone.Tatoeba #7148225 by Luiaard, translation #4025297 by eeyinn
- Ich warte im Auto.I'm going to wait in the car.This sentence shows the form warte used to describe waiting in a location.Tatoeba #8644211 by Melang, translation #2542979 by CK
- 1880 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are deciding whether to leave a party early.
- MaximilianWarte noch ein bisschen!Wait a little longer!
- JuliaNein, ich möchte jetzt gehen.No, I want to go now.
- MaximilianWarte, die Musik wird bald besser.Wait, the music will get better soon.
- JuliaIch warte lieber zu Hause.I would rather wait at home.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
