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Expressions with the German verb “haben” (to have) Posted by on Jun 20, 2012 in Grammar, Language

It is always the right time to learn some new idiomatic expressions. In this post, I discuss the German verb “haben” (to have) and present it in combination with other words. IN the table below you find several idioms that contain the verb “haben”.

 

German Pronunciation English
die Gelegenheit haben dee gey-ley-guhn-hayt hah-buhn to have the opportunity
es hat keinen Zweck es hat kai-nuhn tsvek there’s no point
keine Lust haben kai-nuh loost hah-buhn to have no desire; to feel like
die Zeit haben dee tsayt hah-buhn to have time
das Glück haben dAs glük hah-buhn to be lucky
die (An)Gewohnheit haben dee (An)geuh-vohn-hayt hah-buhn to be accustomed to; to have the habit
die Absicht haben dee Ap-ziHt hah-buhn to have the intention
das Recht haben dAs ReHt hah-buhn to have the right
den Mut haben deyn moot hah-buhn to have the courage

 

When you would like to use these idioms in your speech you, of course, have to conjugate the verb “haben”.

 

German English
Du hast jetzt die Gelegenheit, eine Pause zu machen. Now you have the opportunity to take a break.
Wir haben Glück, dass das Wetter so gut ist. We are lucky that the weather is so good.
Ich habe im Moment keine Zeit. I have no time at the moment.
Sie haben das Recht zu schweigen. You have the right to be silent.
Er hat die Absicht zu heiraten. He has the intention of getting married.
Es hat keinen Zweck mit ihm zu reden, da er nicht zuhören wird. There is no point in talking to him because we would not listen.
Sie hat die schlechte Angewohnheit zu rauchen. She has the bad habit of smoking.
Ich habe keine Lust ins Kino zu gehen. I do not feel like going to the movies.
Wir haben nicht den Mut diese Verantwortung zu tragen. We do not have the courage to bear this responsibility.

 

 

Here is a separate table of the conjugation of “haben” so that you have an overview quick at hand.

 

Singular Plural
1st person ich habe (I have) wir haben (wir haben)
2nd person du hast / Sie haben (you have) ihr habt / Sie haben (you have)
3rd person er/sie/es hat (he/she/it has) sie haben (they have)

 

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About the Author: Sandra Rösner

Hello everybody! I studied English and American Studies, Communication Science, and Political Science at the University of Greifswald. Since I have been learning English as a second language myself for almost 20 years now I know how difficult it is to learn a language other than your native one. Thus, I am always willing to keep my explanations about German grammar comprehensible and short. Further, I am inclined to encourage you to speak German in every situation. Regards, Sandra

Comments:

  1. Fernando S.:

    “…I am inclined to encourage you to speak German in every situation…”

    Easier said than done 🙂

    Tak

  2. Thomas:

    Hi! This is helpful from time to time for clarifying certain usages! But please be careful with your translations…
    Es hat keinen Zweck mit ihm zu reden, da er nicht zuhören wird. There is no point in talking to him because we would not listen.

    Should be: There is no point in talking to him because *he will* not listen.