verb
to run, to walk
A1
Laufen: common verb meaning 'to run' or 'to walk' (movement on foot). Strong/irregular: past 'lief', participle 'gelaufen'; present shows umlaut (läuft). Uses auxiliary sein in perfect (ich bin gelaufen). Non‑reflexive; imperative forms: lauf! / laufen Sie! Distinguish context for running versus walking.
Examples
Ich bin einen Marathon gelaufen.
I ran a marathon.
Wir laufen zur U-Bahn, weil der Bus spät ist.
We're walking to the subway because the bus is late.
Ich laufe jeden Morgen.
I run every morning.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone 'lounging' but suddenly starting to run — 'laufen' = run
sounds like 'louver' without the v — imagine running past a Louvre painting
Notes
Common in everyday speech for both running and (in some contexts) walking. Uses sein as auxiliary in perfect tenses when indicating movement (ist gelaufen). Intransitive verb; passive voice forms are not applicable and therefore marked 'not applicable' in the conjugation table.