The German verb "sein" means "to be" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "sein" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "sein" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | bin |
| du | you (informal) | bist |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | ist |
| wir | we | sind |
| ihr | you all (informal) | seid |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sind |
Er ist ein guter Lehrer.
He is a good teacher.
How to Conjugate "sein" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | war |
| du | you (informal) | warst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | war |
| wir | we | waren |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wart |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | waren |
Er war ein guter Lehrer.
He was a good teacher.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | bin gewesen |
| du | you (informal) | bist gewesen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | ist gewesen |
| wir | we | sind gewesen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | seid gewesen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sind gewesen |
Er ist im Urlaub gewesen.
He has been on vacation.
How to Conjugate "sein" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | war gewesen |
| du | you (informal) | warst gewesen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | war gewesen |
| wir | we | waren gewesen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wart gewesen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | waren gewesen |
Er war im Park gewesen.
He had been in the park.
How to Conjugate "sein" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde sein |
| du | you (informal) | wirst sein |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird sein |
| wir | we | werden sein |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet sein |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden sein |
Er wird pünktlich bei der Arbeit sein.
He will be at work on time.
How to Conjugate "sein" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | sei |
| du | you (informal) | seist |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | sei |
| wir | we | seien |
| ihr | you all (informal) | seiet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | seien |
Sie meint, er sei zu Hause.
She thinks that he is at home.
How to Conjugate "sein" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | wäre |
| du | you (informal) | wärst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wäre |
| wir | we | wären |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wärt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | wären |
Er wäre gerne ein Pilot.
He would like to be a pilot.
Frequently Asked Questions About "sein"
Is "sein" regular or irregular in German?
"Sein" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "sein" mean in English?
The German verb "sein" means "to be" in English.
How do you conjugate "sein" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → bin, du → bist, er/sie/es → ist, wir → sind, ihr → seid, sie/Sie → sind.
How many tenses does "sein" have in German?
"Sein" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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