In German, we use reciprocal verbs (reziproke Verben) and along with reciprocal pronouns when individuals or groups do something to each other. Consequently, a lot of these actions cannot be performed alone and are commonly used in the plural.
It is important to note that reciprocal verbs must always be used together with a subject and an object. The objects are realized either with the use of the plural pronouns sich/uns/euch or with the reciprocal pronoun einander. They correspond to the English expressions “each other” or “one another.”
What are the German reciprocal pronouns?
In German, the German reciprocal pronouns are mostly the same as the plural reflexive pronouns sich, uns, and euch, but there is one additional one that is only used for reciprocal situations: einander. These pronouns all translate to “each other” or “one another,” and you can use them to express mutual actions, just like you would in English. For example,
Note, though, that there are some cases where, in English, a reciprocal action doesn’t actually require us to use a phrase like “each other,” but a reciprocal pronoun is required in German!
❌Alina und Gregor umarmen.
❌Wir unterhielten über unsere Lieblingsrezepte.
But when should you use each pronoun? Let’s have a look!
When use ‘sich,’ ‘uns,’ and ‘euch’ as reciprocal pronouns?
In German, the reciprocal pronouns sich, uns, and euch are all used to mean “each other” or “one another,” and the one you should use depends on the subject of the sentence.
| Subject | Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
“we” 1st person | uns | Wir schreiben uns regelmäßig. Translation: We write to each other regularly. |
“you (all)” 2nd person | euch | Habt ihr euch schon geeinigt? Translation: Have you come to an agreement yet? |
“they” 3rd person | sich | Die Kinder streiten sich schon wieder. Translation: The kids are arguing again. |
These three reciprocal pronouns have the exact same forms as reflexive pronouns uns meaning ourselves, euch meaning yourselves, and sich meaning themselves.
So does that mean that “we hugged ourselves” is the same as “we hugged each other” in German? Yes! Luckily, the context will usually make your meaning clear, but if it doesn’t you can add the word gegenseitig, which roughly means “mutually.” This can clarify that the reciprocal meaning is intended.
✅The hairdressers cut each other’s hair. (reciprocal)
✅The hairdressers (mutually) cut each other’s hair. (reciprocal)
Another way to resolve the ambiguity is to just use einander instead of sich. Read on to find out how and when you can do this!
When to use ‘einander’ in German?
In German, einander is a reciprocal pronoun that translates to “each other.” But when should you use einander rather than the three pronouns, uns, euch, and sich, that we discussed above?
In many (but not all) cases, reciprocal pronouns and einander can be used interchangeably.
Die Fahrer grüßen einander mit einem freundlichen Winken.
However, there are some cases where einander needs to be used:
Always use einander if the reciprocal pronoun is the object of a preposition. This pronoun often combines with the preposition it’s the object of to form a single word (more on this below!):
prepositionreciprocal pronounIn unserem Auto passen drei Kindersitze nebeneinander.Translation: Three child seats fit next to each other in our car.You can use einander to help resolve ambiguity and clarify that the action is intended to be reciprocal, not reflexive. Unlike uns, euch, and sich, the pronoun einander can’t be used in reflexives.
Die beiden Schwestern kämmen sich das Haar vor dem Spiegel.Translation: ✅The two sisters comb their hair in front of the mirror. (reflexive)
✅The two sisters comb each other’s hair in front of the mirror. (reciprocal)Die beiden Schwestern kämmen einander das Haar vor dem Spiegel.Translation: ❌The two sisters comb their hair in front of the mirror. (reflexive)
✅The two sisters comb each other’s hair in front of the mirror. (reciprocal)Here’s another example:
Die Affen lausen sich.Translation: ✅The monkeys are delousing themselves. (reflexive)
✅The monkeys are delousing each other. (reciprocal)Die Affen lausen einander.Translation: ❌The monkeys are delousing themselves. (reflexive)
✅The monkeys are delousing each other. (reciprocal)However, if the action of the verb cannot ever be reflexive, you can never use einander.
reciprocal verbreciprocal pronoun✅Wir haben uns rasch angefreundet.
❌Wir haben einander rasch angefreundet.Translation: We quickly became friends.You can’t befriend yourself!
How to combine ‘einander’ with prepositions?
When einander meaning each other is used after a preposition, it often combines with that preposition to form a compound word. You can see this, for example, when the verbs warten auf meaning to wait for, tanzten mit meaning dance with, or stehen neben meaning stand next to are used reciprocally:
Here are the most commonly used combinations between a preposition and einander, along with examples of each:
| Preposition | Prep. + einander | Example |
|---|---|---|
mit Translation: with | miteinander Translation: with each other | Wir haben lange miteinander gesprochen. Translation: We talked to each other for a long time. |
an Translation: on | aneinander Translation: on each other | Wir denken oft aneinander. Translation: We often think of each other. |
auf Translation: on top | aufeinander Translation: on top of each other | Die Zeitungen liegen aufeinander in der Verteilerbox. Translation: The newspapers lie on top of each other in the distribution box. |
unter Translation: under | untereinander Translation: under each other | Die Bilder hängen untereinander an der Wand. Translation: The pictures hang one below the other on the wall. |
bei Translation: near | beieinander Translation: near each other | Remo und Danielle stehen nahe beieinander. Translation: Remo and Danielle stand close to each other. |
über Translation: over | übereinander Translation: over each other | Im Winter trage ich jeweils zwei Pullover übereinander. Translation: In winter, I wear two sweaters on top of each other. |
neben Translation: next to | nebeneinander Translation: next to each other | Wir würden gerne nebeneinander sitzen. Translation: We would like to sit next to each other. |
für Translation: for | füreinander Translation: for each other | Wir sind füreinander da. Translation: We are there for one another. |
durch Translation: through | durcheinander Translation: through each other | Die Bücher lagen wüst durcheinander auf dem Boden. Translation: The books were lying on the floor in a mess. Literally: The books were lying wildly through each other on the floor. |
nach Translation: after | nacheinander Translation: after each other | Die Kinder kamen nacheinander ins Klassenzimmer. Translation: The children came into the classroom one after the other. |
What are reciprocal verbs in German?
In German, reciprocal verbs are those that represent mutual actions — things that two subjects can do to each other. We can distinguish three types of reciprocal verbs: verbs that are purely reciprocal, verbs that have a reciprocal use, a reflexive use, and a transitive use, and verbs that have just a reciprocal and a transitive use. Let’s look at each type in more detail:
Purely reciprocal verbs
Purely reciprocal verbs are these verbs which describe an action that is always and only reciprocal: the action must always be done mutually and cannot be self-directed. Some examples might be sich einigen meaning to reach an agreement or sich streiten meaning to argue, to quarrel. You can’t reach an agreement or quarrel alone, it must always be a mutual action.
This type of reciprocal verb is comparatively rare, simply because there are a limited number of actions that require mutual participation.
If you want to provide some information about the other party involved in the action, you can often do that by using the preposition mit meaning with + other party. Remember, though, that you still need to include the reciprocal pronoun!
Verbs with a reciprocal use, a reflexive use, and a transitive use
In German, many verbs may be reciprocal (mutual), reflexive (self-directed) or transitive (one-way, directed at an object). For example:
| Reciprocal | Wir mögen uns schon seit unserer Kindheit. Translation: We have liked each other since childhood. | Unser Hund hat sich in die Zunge gebissen. Translation: Our dog bit his tongue. |
|---|---|---|
| Reflexive | Ich mag mich so, wie ich bin! Translation: I like myself the way I am! | Die Hunde beißen einander beim Spielen in den Schwanz. Translation: The dogs bite each other’s tails when they play. |
| Transitive | Ich mag Weißwurst mit Sauerkraut. Translation: I like Weißwurst with sauerkraut. | Dein Hund hat meinen Hund gebissen! Translation: Your dog bit my dog! |
Since verbs in this group have a reflexive and a reciprocal meaning, and since the reflexive and reciprocal pronouns sich, euch, and uns, these verbs can be ambiguous. Is it a self-directed action, or a mutually-directed one? These are therefore the verbs where you might need to use einander meaning each other or gegenseitig meaning mutually, which we discussed above.
Verbs which can be transitive or reciprocal
Lastly, there are some verbs that can be transitive or reciprocal, but you don’t usually do them to yourself. An example might be grüßen meaning to greet:
Another example might be umarmen meaning to hug:
Summary
Reciprocal verbs in German are verbs that show that two or more people are doing the same thing to each other. Here are the key points to remember:
These are the different ways to say “each other” or “one another” in German:
Reciprocal Pronoun Use when… uns“we” do something to each other
euch“you” do something to each other
sich“they” do something to each other
einanderAlways → when the reflexive pronoun follows a preposition
Sometimes → to clarify that the sentence is reciprocal not reflexive
Never → as the object of a verb that can’t be reflexive
Einander meaning each other combines with a number of prepositions.
Purely reciprocal verbs are rare. Most reciprocal verbs also have a reflexive use or a transitive use.
Want to review? Check out this list of common German reciprocal verbs, or try out these German reciprocal verb activities to get in some practice!
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