The German verb "sprechen" means "to speak" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "sprechen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "sprechen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | spreche |
| du | you (informal) | sprichst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | spricht |
| wir | we | sprechen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | sprecht |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sprechen |
Er spricht mit dem Lehrer.
He speaks with the teacher.
How to Conjugate "sprechen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | sprach |
| du | you (informal) | sprachst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | sprach |
| wir | we | sprachen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | spracht |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sprachen |
Er sprach über das neue Projekt.
He spoke about the new project.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe gesprochen |
| du | you (informal) | hast gesprochen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat gesprochen |
| wir | we | haben gesprochen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt gesprochen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben gesprochen |
Er hat viel gesprochen.
He has spoken a lot.
How to Conjugate "sprechen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte gesprochen |
| du | you (informal) | hattest gesprochen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte gesprochen |
| wir | we | hatten gesprochen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet gesprochen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten gesprochen |
Er hatte über das Thema gesprochen.
He had spoken about the topic.
How to Conjugate "sprechen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde sprechen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst sprechen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird sprechen |
| wir | we | werden sprechen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet sprechen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden sprechen |
Er wird laut sprechen.
He will speak loudly.
How to Conjugate "sprechen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | spreche |
| du | you (informal) | sprechest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | spreche |
| wir | we | sprechen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | sprechet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sprechen |
Man sagt, er spreche fließend Englisch.
People say he speaks English fluently.
How to Conjugate "sprechen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | spräche |
| du | you (informal) | sprächest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | spräche |
| wir | we | sprächen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | sprächet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sprächen |
Er spräche mit dem Lehrer.
He would speak with the teacher.
Frequently Asked Questions About "sprechen"
Is "sprechen" regular or irregular in German?
"Sprechen" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "sprechen" mean in English?
The German verb "sprechen" means "to speak" in English.
How do you conjugate "sprechen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → spreche, du → sprichst, er/sie/es → spricht, wir → sprechen, ihr → sprecht, sie/Sie → sprechen.
How many tenses does "sprechen" have in German?
"Sprechen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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