21 December 2025
What do you call a Date, Meeting, or Rendezvous in German?
It’s what you make with friends, forget with embarrassment, or cancel at the last minute. In German, it’s die Verabredung. This is your German word of the day, and it’s a key term when talking about meetups, dates, or social plans.
The noun Verabredung means appointment, arrangement, or date, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. From casual get-togethers to romantic dinners, this word comes in handy whenever someone says, “Wollen wir uns verabreden?”
It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Verabredung (want gender to finally make sense? This quick video lesson will help you crack it once and for all).
Pronunciation
Verabredung is pronounced roughly [fer-AHP-reh-dung].
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Ver is unstressed, roughly “fer”; the r is often vocalized,
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ab - short German a, ending in p because the b is devoiced,
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re - an unstressed e without the glide in English “rate,”
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ung - short u, as in “put,” plus the ng of “sing”
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Stress is on the second syllable: ver-AB-re-dung
It sounds light and organized - like something you planned in advance.
Example sentences:
Wir haben heute Abend eine Verabredung.We have a date tonight.
Ich habe eine Verabredung mit meiner Freundin.I have plans to meet my friend or girlfriend; Freundin can mean either, depending on context.
Nuance and usage tips
Verabredung often refers to social plans, but it can also describe an agreed business meeting. For an official scheduled appointment, Termin is usually the clearer word.
Common meanings:
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Social plans -
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eine Verabredung mit Freunden - a meetup with friends
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eine romantische Verabredung - a date
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Mutual agreement -
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nach Verabredung - by prior arrangement
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eine feste Verabredung - a firm agreement
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It’s related to the verb sich verabreden - to arrange to meet.
Examples:
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Wir haben uns um 18 Uhr verabredet. - We arranged to meet at 6 p.m.
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Ich muss die Verabredung leider absagen. - Unfortunately, I have to cancel our plans.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
You’ll hear Verabredung anytime people are planning something together:
“Hast du heute eine Verabredung?” - Do you have plans tonight?“Wir haben schon eine Verabredung fürs Wochenende.” - We already have plans for the weekend.
In dating contexts, it’s soft and neutral - polite without being too intense.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Emma: Wollen wir uns morgen treffen?Jonas: Geht leider nicht - ich hab eine Verabredung.Emma: Mit wem?Jonas: Mit meiner Schwester - wir gehen ins Kino.
Emma: Want to meet up tomorrow?Jonas: Can’t - I’ve got a plan.Emma: With who?Jonas: With my sister - we’re going to the movies.
Grammatical case examples:
Nominative:Die Verabredung ist um 18 Uhr.We’re meeting at 6 p.m.
Accusative:Ich habe die Verabredung vergessen!I forgot the meeting!
Dative:Mit der Verabredung bin ich einverstanden.I’m okay with that arrangement.
Genitive:Der Zeitpunkt der Verabredung war ungünstig.The timing of the arrangement was inconvenient.
Feminine case pattern: die, die, der, der
Word variations and language tidbits
Related expressions:
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eine Verabredung haben / treffen - to have/make a plan
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sich verabreden - to arrange a meeting
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Verabredung zum Essen - dinner plan
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Verabredung absagen / verschieben - to cancel / postpone a meeting
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Blindverabredung / Blind Date - blind date
Note: While Verabredung can mean “date,” it’s a soft, general word - far less loaded than in English. It can easily refer to platonic or group plans, too.
📘 Duden entry🎥 Want to learn the top 1000 German nouns the smart way? Our free video course uses images, real-life examples, and expert grammar tips to help you build your vocabulary faster.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Verbrechen means? It’s serious… and someone might be guilty.What about Verbindung? Without it, your plans - and your signal - might disappear.
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