verb
to build, to construct
A2
'bauen' = to build or construct. Regular weak verb, non‑reflexive. Uses haben for perfect (hat gebaut). Not separable; no irregular stem changes. Commonly transitive (ein Haus bauen) and used in technical or everyday contexts. Imperative: bau! (ihr baut). Also used for building abstract things: Vertrauen aufbauen.
Examples
Wir bauen ein Haus.
We're building a house.
Die Arbeiter bauten eine Brücke, weil die alte Straße gesperrt worden war.
The workers built a bridge because the old road had been closed.
Er hat ein neues Haus gebaut.
He has built a new house.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture stacking building blocks to form a house — each block helps you 'bauen' (build).
Sounds a bit like 'bower' (a small shelter) — imagine 'building a bower'.
Notes
Bauen is a regular (weak) verb meaning to build or construct. It commonly uses the auxiliary 'haben' in compound tenses. Related verbs with prefixes (aufbauen, abbauen, ausbauen) are separable and change the meaning.