The German verb "denken" means "to think" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "denken" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "denken" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | denke |
| du | you (informal) | denkst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | denkt |
| wir | we | denken |
| ihr | you all (informal) | denkt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | denken |
Er denkt über das Problem nach.
He thinks about the problem.
How to Conjugate "denken" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | dachte |
| du | you (informal) | dachtest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | dachte |
| wir | we | dachten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | dachtet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | dachten |
Er dachte an seine Freunde.
He thought about his friends.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe gedacht |
| du | you (informal) | hast gedacht |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat gedacht |
| wir | we | haben gedacht |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt gedacht |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben gedacht |
Er hat an die Lösung gedacht.
He has thought of the solution.
How to Conjugate "denken" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte gedacht |
| du | you (informal) | hattest gedacht |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte gedacht |
| wir | we | hatten gedacht |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet gedacht |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten gedacht |
Er hatte an die Lösung gedacht.
He had thought about the solution.
How to Conjugate "denken" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde denken |
| du | you (informal) | wirst denken |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird denken |
| wir | we | werden denken |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet denken |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden denken |
Er wird an die Lösung denken.
He will think about the solution.
How to Conjugate "denken" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | denke |
| du | you (informal) | denkest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | denke |
| wir | we | denken |
| ihr | you all (informal) | denket |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | denken |
Er sagt, er denke an alles.
He says that he is thinking of everything.
How to Conjugate "denken" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | dächte |
| du | you (informal) | dächtest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | dächte |
| wir | we | dächten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | dächtet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | dächten |
Er dächte wohl an eine Lösung.
He would probably think of a solution.
Frequently Asked Questions About "denken"
Is "denken" regular or irregular in German?
"Denken" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "denken" mean in English?
The German verb "denken" means "to think" in English.
How do you conjugate "denken" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → denke, du → denkst, er/sie/es → denkt, wir → denken, ihr → denkt, sie/Sie → denken.
How many tenses does "denken" have in German?
"Denken" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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