The German verb "werden" means "to become" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "werden" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "werden" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde |
| du | you (informal) | wirst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird |
| wir | we | werden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden |
Das Wetter wird jetzt besser.
The weather is getting better now.
How to Conjugate "werden" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | wurde |
| du | you (informal) | wurdest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wurde |
| wir | we | wurden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wurdet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | wurden |
Er wurde sehr berühmt.
He became very famous.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | bin geworden |
| du | you (informal) | bist geworden |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | ist geworden |
| wir | we | sind geworden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | seid geworden |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sind geworden |
Er ist Arzt geworden.
He has become a doctor.
How to Conjugate "werden" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | war geworden |
| du | you (informal) | warst geworden |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | war geworden |
| wir | we | waren geworden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wart geworden |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | waren geworden |
Es war kalt geworden.
It had become cold.
How to Conjugate "werden" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde werden |
| du | you (informal) | wirst werden |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird werden |
| wir | we | werden werden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet werden |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden werden |
Er wird bald müde werden.
He will become tired soon.
How to Conjugate "werden" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde |
| du | you (informal) | werdest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | werde |
| wir | we | werden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden |
Er meint, er werde Lehrer.
He thinks that he is becoming a teacher.
How to Conjugate "werden" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | würde |
| du | you (informal) | würdest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | würde |
| wir | we | würden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | würdet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | würden |
Er würde gerne Pilot werden.
He would like to become a pilot.
Frequently Asked Questions About "werden"
Is "werden" regular or irregular in German?
"Werden" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "werden" mean in English?
The German verb "werden" means "to become" in English.
How do you conjugate "werden" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → werde, du → wirst, er/sie/es → wird, wir → werden, ihr → werdet, sie/Sie → werden.
How many tenses does "werden" have in German?
"Werden" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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