could

kʊd
Can also be a form of:
Translation Definition Conjugation
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Translation of could into German

Auxiliary verb

1.

possibility

expressing possibility or potential
  • She could become a great artist one day.Sie könnte eines Tages eine großartige Künstlerin werden.
2.

ability

indicating a past ability or permission
  • When I was a child, I could climb trees easily.Als ich ein Kind war, konnte ich leicht auf Bäume klettern.
3.

hypothetical

expressing a hypothetical situation
  • If I had more time, I could travel the world.Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, könnte ich die Welt bereisen.
4.

polite request

used to make polite requests or offers
  • Could you pass the salt, please?Könnten Sie bitte das Salz reichen?
5.

suggestion

suggests a course of action or advice
könntest könntet
  • You could try restarting your computer.Du könntest versuchen, deinen Computer neu zu starten.
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Expressions with could: examples in English and translations in German

so gut es ging
so gut ich konnte
I completed the project as best I could.
es schlechter treffen können
schlechter wählen
If you're hungry, you could do worse than this restaurant.
einen Bärenhunger haben
After the hike, I could eat a whole horse.
könnte den ganzen Tag weitermachen
He could go all day playing basketball without getting tired.
schwören können
I could have sworn I left my keys on the table!
eine Stecknadel fallen hören
eine Nadel fallen hören
We could hear a pin drop during the tense meeting.

Synonyms and analogies of could in English

aux.v.maymightwouldcanMore synonyms

Examples of could in a sentence

  • They could win the championship this year.
  • She could swim across the lake when she was younger.
  • He could solve complex puzzles as a teenager.
  • With better resources, we could achieve more.
  • If it rains, we could cancel the picnic.
  • Could you help me with this task?
can
kən
cannedcanning
Noun
1.

metal container

US
container typically used for holding liquids or food
US
Dose fBüchse f
  • She opened a can of soup for dinner..Sie öffnete eine Dose Suppe zum Abendessen.
2.

watering

US
container for carrying water to plants
US
Gießkanne fGießgefäß
  • She used a can to water the flowers.Sie benutzte eine Gießkanne, um die Blumen zu gießen.
Auxiliary verb
1.

rules

show permission or right
  • You can leave early today.Du darfst heute früher gehen.
2.

chance

show that something is possible
  • It can rain later this evening.Es kann später heute Abend regnen.
3.

perception

show what someone notices with senses
  • I can hear music from outside.Ich kann von draußen Musik hören.
Verb
tr.
1.

cooking

US
preserve food by heating and sealing it in a container
US
einkochen einmachen
  • They can peaches every August.Sie kochen jeden August Pfirsiche ein.
2.

plans

throw away or stop using something
  • We canned the proposal after the budget cuts.Nach den Budgetkürzungen verwarfen wir den Vorschlag.

Expressions with can: examples in English and translations in German

Halt die Klappe
Schluss damit
Can it, we're trying to concentrate.
so hart wie möglich
so stark wie man kann
They ran as hard as they can to catch the last bus.
ich kann es kaum erwarten
I can hardly wait for the concert tomorrow!
man kann nie wissen
You never can tell what will happen next.
was kannst du tun
If you finish early, what can you do next?
Wer kann schon sagen
wer weiß
Who can tell why she left so suddenly?

Translations of "could" in Context ordered by category and frequency

Verb
könntev.

Her quirky best friend could have come right from central casting.

Ihre schräge beste Freundin könnte direkt wie aus dem Bilderbuch stammen.

I struck upon a brilliant idea that could change our approach.

Mir kam eine brillante Idee, die unseren Ansatz verändern könnte.

könnenv.

They saved money in order that they could buy a new house.

Sie sparten Geld, um ein neues Haus kaufen zu können.

He believed he could make a conquest with poetry and small gestures.

Er glaubte, mit Poesie und kleinen Gesten jemanden erobern zu können.

Explore more translations and examples on Reverso Context

Other translations for could:

  • dürfenv.
  • konnte
  • könnten

could: Examples and translations in context

Their previous conflict could colour his judgement of her current performance.

Ihr früherer Konflikt könnte sein Urteil über ihre aktuelle Leistung trüben.

Cheating in the competition could ruin your chances of winning fairly.

Betrug im Wettbewerb könnte deine Chancen auf einen fairen Sieg verspielen.

If you testify honestly, it could greatly influence the verdict.

Wenn Sie ehrlich aussagen, könnte das das Urteil stark beeinflussen.

A strong enough crush could completely alter the shape of the object.

Ein starker genug Druck könnte die Form des Objekts völlig verändern.

He was often fond, imagining that he could change her mind.

Er war oft blauäugig und dachte, er könnte ihre Meinung ändern.

I told him he could find better friends somewhere else.

Ich sagte ihm, dass er bessere Freunde woanders finden könnte.

If you pinch something now, it could ruin your reputation later.

Wenn du jetzt etwas klaust, könnte das später deinen Ruf ruinieren.

The garden could do with some attention; it's getting overgrown.

Der Garten könnte etwas Pflege gut gebrauchen; er verwildert langsam.

See also:

Browse the dictionary entries starting with “c”:
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