The German verb "handeln" means "to act, to trade" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "handeln" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "handeln" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | handle |
| du | you (informal) | handelst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | handelt |
| wir | we | handeln |
| ihr | you all (informal) | handelt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | handeln |
Er handelt schnell in Notfällen.
He acts quickly in emergencies.
How to Conjugate "handeln" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | handelte |
| du | you (informal) | handeltest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | handelte |
| wir | we | handelten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | handeltet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | handelten |
Er handelte sofort nach Plan.
He acted immediately according to plan.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe gehandelt |
| du | you (informal) | hast gehandelt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat gehandelt |
| wir | we | haben gehandelt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt gehandelt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben gehandelt |
Er hat mit Aktien gehandelt.
He has traded with stocks.
How to Conjugate "handeln" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte gehandelt |
| du | you (informal) | hattest gehandelt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte gehandelt |
| wir | we | hatten gehandelt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet gehandelt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten gehandelt |
Er hatte klug gehandelt.
He had acted wisely.
How to Conjugate "handeln" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde handeln |
| du | you (informal) | wirst handeln |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird handeln |
| wir | we | werden handeln |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet handeln |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden handeln |
Er wird klug handeln.
He will act wisely.
How to Conjugate "handeln" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | handle |
| du | you (informal) | handlest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | handle |
| wir | we | handeln |
| ihr | you all (informal) | handelt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | handeln |
Sie sagt, er handle schnell.
She says he acts quickly.
How to Conjugate "handeln" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | handelte |
| du | you (informal) | handeltest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | handelte |
| wir | we | handelten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | handeltet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | handelten |
Er handelte mit frischem Obst heute.
He would trade with fresh fruit today.
Frequently Asked Questions About "handeln"
Is "handeln" regular or irregular in German?
"Handeln" is a regular German verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "handeln" mean in English?
The German verb "handeln" means "to act, to trade" in English.
How do you conjugate "handeln" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → handle, du → handelst, er/sie/es → handelt, wir → handeln, ihr → handelt, sie/Sie → handeln.
How many tenses does "handeln" have in German?
"Handeln" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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