verb
to climb
B1
'klettern' means 'to climb' (e.g., rocks, trees). It's a regular (weak) verb; past participle 'geklettert' and auxiliary 'haben' (Perfekt: 'ich habe geklettert'). Non-reflexive. Forms: present 'klettere/kletterst', Präteritum 'kletterte'. Used for physical climbing and casual expressions like 'klettern gehen'. Also common outdoors.
Examples
Er kletterte auf den Berg.
He climbed the mountain.
Die Kinder kletterten auf den Hügel, obwohl die Eltern warnend riefen.
The children climbed the hill although the parents shouted warnings.
Ich klettere auf den Baum.
I'm climbing the tree.
Details
Mnemonics
picture someone climbing a mountain and attaching a small flag with 'klettern' on it
sounds a bit like 'climb' + 'turn' — imagine turning while climbing
Notes
Regular (weak) verb meaning to climb (rock climbing or climbing in general). Uses 'haben' as auxiliary in perfect tenses. | Intransitive verb; passive conjugations are not applicable.