verb
to talk, to converse
A2
Means ‘to talk’ or ‘to converse’. Commonly used reflexively as sich unterhalten (mit + D to talk with someone; über + A about a topic). Uses auxiliary haben. Irregular strong verb (unterhält – unterhielt – unterhalten). Not separable; typically intransitive when reflexive.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Ich unterhalte mich gerne mit meinen Freunden.
I like to chat with my friends.
Sie hat sich gut unterhalten.
She had a good conversation.
Ich unterhalte mich gerne mit meinen Freunden.
I like chatting with my friends.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
two people holding a small chat bubble between them labelled 'sich unterhalten'
under + halten (hold) -> hold a conversation
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Here used reflexively (sich unterhalten = to converse). The reflexive pronoun appears in actual conjugated usage (ich unterhalte mich, etc.), but the conjugation table omits personal and reflexive pronouns and shows only the verb forms/auxiliaries. Passive forms are not applicable when the verb is used reflexively/intransitively; therefore passive cells are marked 'not applicable'.