verb
to separate, to split, to part (separate from someone)
B1
trennen means to separate, split or part. Used non‑reflexively for separating things (etwas trennen) and reflexively (sich trennen) for ending relationships or parting. Regular weak verb (Perfekt: getrennt) using auxiliary haben. Not separable. No irregular stem changes; common in both transitives and reflexive constructions.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Sie trennte sich von ihrem Mann.
She separated from her husband.
Nach vielen Jahren haben sich die beiden Partner schließlich getrennt.
After many years the two partners eventually parted ways.
Wir müssen das Altpapier vom Restmüll trennen.
We need to separate the paper from the rest of the garbage.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
picture scissors cutting a line labelled 'tren-' so things are separated
sounds like 'trendy' (imagine dividing trendy and not-trendy items)
n/a
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
trennen is commonly used both transitively (etwas trennen) and reflexively (sich trennen). In contexts of relationships, 'sich trennen' means to break up.