The German verb "lächeln" means "to smile" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "lächeln" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "lächeln" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | lächle |
| du | you (informal) | lächelst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | lächelt |
| wir | we | lächeln |
| ihr | you all (informal) | lächelt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | lächeln |
Er lächelt das Baby an.
He smiles at the baby.
How to Conjugate "lächeln" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | lächelte |
| du | you (informal) | lächeltest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | lächelte |
| wir | we | lächelten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | lächeltet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | lächelten |
Er lächelte den ganzen Abend.
He smiled all evening.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe gelächelt |
| du | you (informal) | hast gelächelt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat gelächelt |
| wir | we | haben gelächelt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt gelächelt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben gelächelt |
Er hat kurz gelächelt.
He has smiled briefly.
How to Conjugate "lächeln" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte gelächelt |
| du | you (informal) | hattest gelächelt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte gelächelt |
| wir | we | hatten gelächelt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet gelächelt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten gelächelt |
Er hatte glücklich gelächelt.
He had smiled happily.
How to Conjugate "lächeln" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde lächeln |
| du | you (informal) | wirst lächeln |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird lächeln |
| wir | we | werden lächeln |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet lächeln |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden lächeln |
Er wird kurz lächeln.
He will smile briefly.
How to Conjugate "lächeln" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | lächle |
| du | you (informal) | lächelst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | lächle |
| wir | we | lächeln |
| ihr | you all (informal) | lächelt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | lächeln |
Er sagt, er lächle freundlich.
He says he is smiling kindly.
How to Conjugate "lächeln" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | lächelte |
| du | you (informal) | lächeltest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | lächelte |
| wir | we | lächelten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | lächeltet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | lächelten |
Er lächelte bei der Begrüßung.
He would smile at the greeting.
Frequently Asked Questions About "lächeln"
Is "lächeln" regular or irregular in German?
"Lächeln" is a regular German verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "lächeln" mean in English?
The German verb "lächeln" means "to smile" in English.
How do you conjugate "lächeln" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → lächle, du → lächelst, er/sie/es → lächelt, wir → lächeln, ihr → lächelt, sie/Sie → lächeln.
How many tenses does "lächeln" have in German?
"Lächeln" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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