All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| handeln | act; trade; be about | taking action; commerce; a story | von + dative; es handelt sich um + accusative |
| behandeln | treat; cover; deal with | people; illness; a topic | direct accusative object |
| verhandeln | negotiate; hear in court | terms; prices; a court case | mit + dative; über + accusative |
handeln
Meaning and usage: Handeln describes taking action or conducting trade. When a book von something handelt, that is its topic. Es handelt sich um identifies a thing or situation, roughly “it is” or “we are dealing with”. The reflexive pronoun belongs to that fixed expression.
Grammar: Not separable; handelt–handelte–hat gehandelt. Handeln without an object for acting; mit + dative for trading; von + dative for a topic. Es handelt sich um + accusative is impersonal and reflexive.
Bei dieser Nachricht handelt es sich um einen Fehler.
This message is an error.
behandeln
Meaning and usage: Behandeln means treating a person in a certain way, giving medical treatment or addressing a topic. An article can ein Thema behandeln; a doctor can einen Patienten behandeln. The construction does not change just because the kind of treatment does.
Grammar: Inseparable be-; behandelt–behandelte–hat behandelt. A direct accusative person, condition, subject or matter is typical. Mit + dative can state a method or means of treatment.
Der nächste Abschnitt behandelt die wichtigsten Vertragsbedingungen.
The next section covers the most important contract terms.
verhandeln
Meaning and usage: Verhandeln usually describes discussions aimed at clarification or agreement. It can involve prices, employment terms or a dispute. In legal texts it also describes hearing a case. Negotiating is a process: the verb alone does not say an agreement was reached.
Grammar: Inseparable ver-; verhandelt–verhandelte–hat verhandelt. Mit jemandem über etwas verhandeln; mit is dative and über accusative. A direct object also occurs, especially for a matter or court case.
Wir verhandeln mit dem Anbieter über den Preis.
We negotiate with the supplier about the price.
Overlap and context
Das Buch handelt von Migration and das Buch behandelt Migration can both describe its subject. Handelt von frames what it is about; behandelt frames the topic being dealt with. At a market, handeln can mean bargaining, so it overlaps with verhandeln in that setting. Learn the whole construction rather than assuming three non-overlapping English labels.
Common mistakes
- Avoid Der Artikel handelt das Thema as your standard expression. Use handelt von dem Thema or behandelt das Thema.
- Avoid Es handelt um …. The identifying expression requires sich.
- Über den Preis verhandeln uses accusative, even though the conversation itself has no physical movement.
Memory aid: Act: handeln. Treat or cover an object: behandeln. Discuss terms toward agreement: verhandeln.
Try it
Complete: Es handelt ___ um eine neue Regel.
Show the answer
sich
Sich is required in the fixed impersonal identifying expression.