German conjugation explanation
Verb stems ending in sibilants (-s, -z, -ß)
<p>In the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/48/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>
, the second person singular (<span style="font-style: italic;">du</span>) usually takes the ending <strong>-st</strong>. However, pronunciation rules change this pattern for certain stem endings.</p><p>When a verb stem ends in a <strong>sibilant</strong> (a «hissing» sound like <span style="font-style: italic;">s, ss, ß, z</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">tz</span>), the extra <span style="font-style: italic;">s</span> in the ending is dropped. The ending becomes simply <span class="green_emphasis">-t</span>.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">The Rule</div>
<p>If the stem ends in <strong>-s, -ss, -ß, -z,</strong> or <strong>-tz</strong>:</p>
<p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">du-ending = <span class="green_emphasis">-t</span> (instead of -st)</p>
<p>This allows for smoother pronunciation, avoiding difficult clusters like "reisst" or "tanzst".</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Result: Identity of Forms</div>
<p>Because of this change, the <strong>du</strong> (S/2) form often looks exactly identical to the <strong>er/sie/es</strong> (S/3) form, which also uses the ending <span style="font-style: italic;">-t</span>.</p>
<p>Here are common examples:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/reisen/" title="Click to see conjugations for reisen" target="_blank">reisen</a>
</strong> (stem: <span style="font-style: italic;">reis-</span>)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Du <span class="green_emphasis">reist</span> gern nach Spanien. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You like traveling to Spain.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">NOT <span class="red_emphasis">reisst</span>.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/tanzen/" title="Click to see conjugations for tanzen" target="_blank">tanzen</a>
</strong> (stem: <span style="font-style: italic;">tanz-</span>)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Du <span class="green_emphasis">tanzt</span> sehr gut. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You dance very well.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">NOT <span class="red_emphasis">tanzst</span>.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/hei%C3%9Fen/" title="Click to see conjugations for heißen" target="_blank">heißen</a>
</strong> (stem: <span style="font-style: italic;">heiß-</span>)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Wie <span class="green_emphasis">heißt</span> du? (<span style="font-style: italic;">What is your name?</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">NOT <span class="red_emphasis">heißst</span>.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/sitzen/" title="Click to see conjugations for sitzen" target="_blank">sitzen</a>
</strong> (stem: <span style="font-style: italic;">sitz-</span>)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Du <span class="green_emphasis">sitzt</span> auf meinem Stuhl. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You are sitting on my chair.</span>)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Comparison Tables</div>
<p>In the tables below, notice how the S/2 and S/3 forms are identical (highlighted):</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/48/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Präsens</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ich
</span>reise
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
du
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">reist<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
er
</span>reist
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
wir
</span>reisen
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ihr
</span>reist
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
sie
</span>reisen
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/48/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Präsens</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ich
</span>heiße
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
du
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">heißt<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
er
</span>heißt
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
wir
</span>heißen
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ihr
</span>heißt
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
sie
</span>heißen
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/48/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Präsens</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ich
</span>tanze
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
du
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tanzt<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
er
</span>tanzt
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
wir
</span>tanzen
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ihr
</span>tanzt
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
sie
</span>tanzen
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Stem-Changing Verbs</div>
<p>This rule also applies to
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/german_stem_change_present/" target="_blank">stem-changing verbs</a>
. Even if the vowel changes, the ending is still just <span style="font-style: italic;">-t</span>. Consequently, the S/2 and S/3 forms remain identical.</p><ul>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/lesen/" title="Click to see conjugations for lesen" target="_blank">lesen</a>
</strong> (stem change <span style="font-style: italic;">e → ie</span>)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Du <span class="green_emphasis">liest</span> ein Buch. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You are reading a book.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Identical to S/3: <span style="font-style: italic;">er liest</span>.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/essen/" title="Click to see conjugations for essen" target="_blank">essen</a>
</strong> (stem change <span style="font-style: italic;">e → i</span>)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Du <span class="green_emphasis">isst</span> einen Apfel. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You are eating an apple.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Here the stem implies the 's', and we just add 't'. Identical to S/3: <span style="font-style: italic;">er isst</span>.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/48/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Präsens</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ich
</span>lese
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
du
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">liest<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
er
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">liest<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
wir
</span>lesen
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ihr
</span>lest
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
sie
</span>lesen
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>