verb
to sew
B1
nähen: to sew; stitch fabric together by hand or machine. Verb uses auxiliary haben in perfect: habe/hast genäht. Regular weak verb: Präteritum nähte, Partizip II genäht. Non‑reflexive, not separable. Imperative forms näh!, näht!. Passive forms exist (genäht werden). Common in tailoring and crafts. Also used for mending clothes and textiles.
Examples
Ich nähe ein Kleid.
I'm sewing a dress.
Meine Mutter näht einen Mantel.
My mother is sewing a coat.
Sie nähte einen Rock.
She sewed a skirt.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a needle making small 'nähe' (tiny) stitches — the verb means to sew
sounds like 'nay-hen' — imagine saying 'nay' to cutting fabric, then sew
Notes
Regular weak verb with stem vowel 'ä' in present forms. Past participle irregular-looking due to prefix 'ge-' plus stem: 'genäht'.