All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| holen | fetch; get | collecting an item or person | usually accusative object |
| bringen | bring; take | delivery to a destination | accusative object; dative recipient possible |
| mitbringen | bring along | a visit; coming to class | separable: bringt … mit |
| tragen | carry; wear | physical support; clothing | trägt–trug–hat getragen |
holen
Meaning and usage: Holen includes collecting something from another place and getting it to the relevant place or person. It often implies going to where the item is, but does not require a long round trip. Someone may also einen Arzt holen: get or fetch a doctor.
Grammar: Not separable; holt–holte–hat geholt. Jemanden/etwas holen; jemandem etwas holen names a dative beneficiary. Sich etwas holen has a dative reflexive pronoun.
Ich hole die Jacke aus dem Schlafzimmer.
I fetch the jacket from the bedroom.
bringen
Meaning and usage: Bringen focuses on making someone or something reach a destination. Unlike English bring, German bringen can naturally describe taking an item away to another place. Do not build an absolute speaker-direction rule from the English translation.
Grammar: Not separable; bringt–brachte–hat gebracht. Jemandem etwas bringen; jemanden/etwas an einen Ort bringen. Location prepositions follow their own case rules.
Kannst du die Unterlagen ins Büro bringen?
Can you take the documents to the office?
mitbringen
Meaning and usage: Mitbringen foregrounds having a person or thing with you when you come to a place. It is useful for visitors, supplies brought to class and shopping brought home. Figuratively, someone may qualifications mitbringen: possess them for a task.
Grammar: Separable: bringt mit–brachte mit–hat mitgebracht. Accusative person or thing; dative recipient optional. Infinitive with zu: mitzubringen.
Bitte bring morgen dein Wörterbuch mit.
Please bring your dictionary along tomorrow.
tragen
Meaning and usage: Tragen highlights physically holding or supporting a person or object while moving it. It also means wearing clothes and carrying a name or responsibility. The verb does not inherently specify who receives the item or whether you fetch it.
Grammar: Not separable; trägt–trug–hat getragen. Usually an accusative object in these senses.
Er trägt die schwere Tasche bis zur Haltestelle.
He carries the heavy bag as far as the bus stop.
Overlap and context
You can holen a box from storage, tragen it downstairs and bringen it to a colleague. If you are already coming to see the colleague, you can mitbringen the box. Sometimes holen and bringen both suit a request; holen emphasizes collecting, while bringen emphasizes delivery.
Common mistakes
- Do not use tragen as the default for bringing an item to a destination; a parcel can be brought without being carried by hand.
- Avoid Ich bringe mein Buch mitgebracht in the present. Use Ich bringe mein Buch mit.
- German bringen is not limited to movement toward the speaker.
Memory aid: Collect → holen. Deliver → bringen. Bring along → mitbringen. Physically carry or wear → tragen.
Try it
A visitor is coming to your home. Ask them to bring bread along: Kannst du Brot ___?
Show the answer
mitbringen
Mitbringen fits an item brought on a visit already taking place.