verb
to burn
B1
Means 'to burn' both intransitively (be on fire) and transitively (burn something). Regular weak verb: present brennt, simple past brannte, past participle gebrannt. Uses haben as auxiliary in perfect tenses. Not reflexive. No stem-vowel change; common imperatives: brenn!, brennt!, brennen! forms.
Examples
Es hat lange gebrannt.
It burned for a long time.
Die Kerze brennt die ganze Nacht.
The candle burns all night.
Das Feuer brennt hell.
The fire burns brightly.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a small flame on a candle that keeps burning as you repeat 'brennen'.
Sounds like 'burn-nen' — think of 'burn' doubled to remember 'brennen' = burn.
Notes
Weak (regular) verb in modern usage: Präteritum 'brannte', Partizip II 'gebrannt'. Can be used for physical burning and figurative senses (e.g., 'auf etw. brennen'). | Intransitive verb; passive conjugation blocks are not applicable and have been marked 'not applicable'.