Unlock the full potential of the German verb “fare” with this comprehensive guide! Learn all its meanings and how to use them in context. Check it out now!
If you’re learning German, you’ve probably come across the verb “fare” and wondered what it meant. “Fare” can be used in a variety of settings in German from travel to cuisine. This blog will look at the various meanings of “Fare” in German verbs and how to use them effectively.
“Fare” as a verb for traveling
One of the most common uses of “Fare” in German is as a verb for traveling. The verb “fahren” means “to go,” “to ride,” or “to drive” and is commonly used in conjunction with vehicles like cars, buses, trains, and bicycles. Here are a few examples:
- Ich fahre mit dem Auto zur Arbeit. (I drive to work.)
- Wir fahren mit dem Zug nach Berlin. (We’re taking the train to Berlin.)
- Er fährt gern Fahrrad. (He likes to ride a bicycle.)
The verb “fare” has different conjugations depending on the subject pronoun, which should be kept in mind when employing it in a travel context. In the present tense, it appears as follows:
- Ich fahre (I go/ride/drive)
- Du fährst (you go/ride/drive)
- Er/sie/es fährt (he/she/it goes/rides/drives)
- Wir fahren (we go/ride/drive)
- Ihr fahrt (you all go/ride/drive)
- Sie fahren (they go/ride/drive)
“Fare” as a verb for cooking
Another use of “Fare” in German is as a verb for cooking. The verb “fahren” in this context means “to cook” or “to prepare” food. Here are some examples:
- Wir fahren heute Abend Pasta. (We’re cooking pasta tonight.)
- Sie fahren gerne asiatisch. (They like to prepare Asian food.)
- Ich fahre jeden Sonntag Frühstück für meine Familie. (I make breakfast for my family every Sunday.)
The verb “Fare” has different conjugations depending on the subject pronoun, which is something to remember when employing it in a cooking context. In the present tense, it appears as follows:
- Ich fahre (I cook/prepare)
- Du fährst (you cook/prepare)
- Er/sie/es fährt (he/she/it cooks/prepares)
- Wir fahren (we cook/prepare)
- Ihr fahrt (you all cook/prepare)
- Sie fahren (they cook/prepare)
“Fare” as a verb for describing emotions
In addition to its uses in traveling and cooking, “Fare” can also describe emotions in German. The verb “fahren” in this context means “to feel” or “to experience.” Here are some examples:
- Ich fahre mich heute sehr traurig. (I’m feeling very sad today.)
- Er fährt sich gut nach dem Training. (He’s feeling good after the workout.)
- Wir fahren uns aufgeregt wegen der bevorstehenden Prüfung. (We’re feeling anxious about the upcoming exam.)
Keep in mind that the word “fare” has several tenses depending on the subject pronoun when using it to describe feelings. The present tense version is as follows:
- Ich fahre mich (I feel/experience)
- Du fährst dich (you feel/experience)
- Er/sie/es f
- ährt sich (he/she/it feels/experiences)
- Wir fahren uns (we feel/experience)
- Ihr fahrt euch (you all feel/experience)
Sie fahren sich (they feel/experience)
“Fare” as a verb for achieving a goal
Another use of “Fare” in German is as a verb for achieving a goal. The verb “fahren” in this context means “to succeed” or “to manage.” Here are some examples:
- Ich fahre es, pünktlich zur Arbeit zu kommen. (I manage to arrive at work on time.)
- Wir fahren es, das Projekt bis zum Ende des Monats abzuschließen. (We’re succeeding in finishing the project by the end of the month.)
- Sie fahren es, den Marathon zu beenden. (They’re managing to complete the marathon.)
Remember that the verb “fare” has several tenses based on the subject pronoun when employing it to accomplish a task. The present tense version is as follows:
- Ich fahre es (I succeed/achieve)
- Du fährst es (you succeed/achieve)
- Er/sie/es fährt es (he/she/it succeeds/achieves)
- Wir fahren es (we succeed/achieve)
- Ihr fahrt es (you all succeed/achieve)
- Sie fahren es (they succeed/achieve)
“Fare” in idiomatic expressions
Finally, “Fare” can also be used in idiomatic expressions in German, where it may have a slightly different meaning. Here are some examples:
- Wie geht es dir? – Mir fährt es gut. (How are you? – I’m doing well.)
- Das fährt mir in die Knochen. (It goes straight to my bones. This expression is used to describe physical exhaustion.)
- Es fährt mir aus der Haut. (It makes me angry. This expression is used to describe extreme anger.)
When using “Fare” in idiomatic expressions, it’s important to note that the meaning may not be immediately obvious and may require some context to fully understand.
The meaning of fare as a transitive verb
As a transitive verb, “fare” in German can mean “to transport” or “to carry” something or someone from one place to another. Here are some examples:
- Der Bus fährt die Passagiere zum Flughafen. (The bus transports the passengers to the airport.)
- Die Fähre fährt das Auto über den Fluss. (The ferry carries the car across the river.)
- Der Zug fährt uns direkt nach Berlin. (The train takes us directly to Berlin.)
The word “fahren” is used in these instances to refer to the action of transferring something or someone from one location to another. Depending on the pronouns for the subject and object, the verb is conjugated.
Here’s how it looks in the present tense:
- Ich fahre (etwas/jemanden) (I transport/carry)
- Du fährst (etwas/jemanden) (you transport/carry)
- Er/sie/es fährt (etwas/jemanden) (he/she/it transports/carries)
- Wir fahren (etwas/jemanden) (we transport/carry)
- Ihr fahrt (etwas/jemanden) (you all transport/carry)
- Sie fahren (etwas/jemanden) (they transport/carry)
When using “Fare” as a transitive verb, it’s important to include the object that is being transported or carried. The object can be a thing (e.g., car, package) or a person (e.g., passenger, friend).
In addition to its use in transportation, “Fare” can also be used in the context of cooking, where it means “to cook” or “to prepare” food. Here are some examples:
- Ich fahre mir heute Abend Spaghetti. (I’m cooking spaghetti for myself tonight.)
- Wir fahren uns ein leckeres Abendessen. (We’re preparing ourselves a delicious dinner.)
- Sie fahren das Essen für die Party vor. (They’re preparing the food for the party.)
In these examples, “fahren” is used to describe the act of preparing or cooking food. The verb is again conjugated depending on the subject pronoun.
The meaning of fare as an intransitive verb
As an intransitive verb, “fare” in German can mean “to get along” or “to do” in the sense of how one is doing in life or a certain situation. Here are some examples:
- Wie fährst du mit deinem neuen Job? (How are you doing with your new job?)
- Wir haben viel Arbeit, aber wir fahren gut. (We have a lot of work, but we’re doing well.)
- Wie fährst du mit deinem Studium? (How are you doing in your studies?)
In these examples, “fahren” is used to describe how well someone is doing in a particular situation. The verb is conjugated depending on the subject pronoun. Here’s how it looks in the present tense:
- Ich fahre (I’m doing)
- Du fährst (you’re doing)
- Er/sie/es fährt (he/she/it’s doing)
- Wir fahren (we’re doing)
- Ihr fahrt (you all are doing)
- Sie fahren (they’re doing)
It’s vital to remember that “fare” does not need an object when used as an intransitive verb. Instead, it depicts how someone is feeling or how they are doing in a specific circumstance.
“Fare” can be used in the context of travel, where it signifies “to travel” or “to journey,” in addition to its use in characterizing one’s state of being or how one is doing in a certain scenario. Here are some examples:
- Wir fahren mit dem Zug nach Hamburg. (We’re traveling to Hamburg by train.)
- Er fährt jeden Sommer in die Berge. (He journeys to the mountains every summer.)
- Sie fahren mit dem Fahrrad zur Arbeit. (They travel to work by bike.)
In these examples, “fahren” is used to describe the act of traveling or journeying. The verb is again conjugated depending on the subject pronoun.
The meaning of fare in fixed expressions
In addition to its use as a transitive or intransitive verb, “fare” in German can be used in several fixed expressions or idioms. Here are some common examples:
- Wie geht es dir? – How are you?
This is a common greeting in German and can be translated as “How do you fare?” or “How are you doing?” It’s a polite way to inquire about someone’s well-being. - Es geht mir gut/schlecht. – I’m doing well/badly.
This is a response to the question “Wie geht es dir?” and can be translated as “I’m faring well/badly.” It’s a way to indicate how one is doing in terms of health or overall well-being. - Gut (über) die Runden kommen – To make ends meet
This expression means to manage financially or to have enough money to cover one’s expenses. It can be translated as “to fare well (over) the rounds.” - Wie der Wind fahren – To drive like the wind
This expression means to drive very fast or recklessly, and can be translated as “to fare like the wind.” - Schlecht fahren – To have bad luck
This expression means to be unlucky or to experience a streak of bad luck, and can be translated as “to fare badly.” - Wie eine Eins fahren – To be very successful or perform flawlessly
This expression means to do something very well or to achieve great success and can be translated as “to fare like a one,” with “one” referring to the number one, indicating that one is doing something perfectly. - Durchfall haben – To have diarrhea
This expression is used to describe the condition of having diarrhea and can be translated as “to fare through,” with “through” referring to the digestive system.
“Fare” is used to convey a specific meaning in these fixed expressions that aren’t always connected to its more literal meaning of transportation, cooking, or describing one’s state of being. It’s critical to keep in mind that these idiomatic expressions cannot be translated word for word; rather, they necessitate an understanding of their cultural and linguistic context.
Du hast es geschafft! You did it!
I’m done now. You now understand what a fare is. And by every meaning, I mean. Don’t worry if you need some time to internalize this lengthy list. But hopefully, I was able to explain why this verb is employed in so many different contexts.
Once you master it, speaking English and translating fare into it naturally become much easier than you imagine. Of course, how quickly you interiorize words, verbs, and grammatical structures depends greatly on how much you practice each day.
The best course of action would be to devote at least a few minutes a day to practicing your German language. But given that we now inhabit a closed world, that isn’t always feasible.
