The German verb "laufen" means "to run, to walk" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "laufen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "laufen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | laufe |
| du | you (informal) | läufst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | läuft |
| wir | we | laufen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | lauft |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | laufen |
Er läuft zum Bahnhof.
He is running to the train station.
How to Conjugate "laufen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | lief |
| du | you (informal) | liefst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | lief |
| wir | we | liefen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | lieft |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | liefen |
Er lief den ganzen Weg.
He walked the whole way.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | bin gelaufen |
| du | you (informal) | bist gelaufen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | ist gelaufen |
| wir | we | sind gelaufen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | seid gelaufen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sind gelaufen |
Er ist nach Hause gelaufen.
He has run home.
How to Conjugate "laufen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | war gelaufen |
| du | you (informal) | warst gelaufen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | war gelaufen |
| wir | we | waren gelaufen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wart gelaufen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | waren gelaufen |
Er war zum Park gelaufen.
He had run to the park.
How to Conjugate "laufen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde laufen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst laufen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird laufen |
| wir | we | werden laufen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet laufen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden laufen |
Er wird schnell nach Hause laufen.
He will run home quickly.
How to Conjugate "laufen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | laufe |
| du | you (informal) | laufest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | laufe |
| wir | we | laufen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | laufet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | laufen |
Er sagt, er laufe schnell.
He says he runs fast.
How to Conjugate "laufen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | liefe |
| du | you (informal) | liefest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | liefe |
| wir | we | liefen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | liefet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | liefen |
Er liefe zum Bus.
He would run to the bus.
Frequently Asked Questions About "laufen"
Is "laufen" regular or irregular in German?
"Laufen" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "laufen" mean in English?
The German verb "laufen" means "to run, to walk" in English.
How do you conjugate "laufen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → laufe, du → läufst, er/sie/es → läuft, wir → laufen, ihr → lauft, sie/Sie → laufen.
How many tenses does "laufen" have in German?
"Laufen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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