German concept: "mitnehmen" versus "mitbringen"

Hello my dear visitors,



this video is again from experience with my students in German classes: Sometimes they say "mitnehmen" when they should say "mitbringen" and cause irritation with native speakers...


"mitnehmen" means, you take something for yourself. The word translates to "take something with you" in English. So if you have a pile of free books as give away you can call "Hier sind Bücher, wer möchte eines mitnehmen".
If you go on a field trip take a lunch with you you would use this word and say "Ich nehme ein Vesper mit". So "mitnehmen" means it is for yourself. Not for others.


If you brought food for everybody and you use the wrong word, "mitnehmen", people will be confused. Your body language is "hey, this is for everyone" but your spoken language is "this is just for me and myself."

If you bring bananas for everybody you need to say "Ich habe Bananen für alle mitgebracht"!
If you write an invitation for a potluck dinner where everybody should bring some nice food to share you will write "Bringt etwas zu Essen mit".


"'mitnehmen and "mitbringen" for people:


"mitbringen" means to introduce a person to a group.

Example: "Hallo, ich habe heute Ludmilla mitgebracht."



"mitnehmen" translates to "give somebody a ride"
After the party you can offer somebody a ride:

"Soll ich dich mitnehmen? Ich fahre sowieso am Bahnhof vorbei."





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