Translation

1. to play (engage in some activity for fun or entertainment) intransitive, weak

   Die Kinder spielen draußen.

   The children are playing outside.

   Die Katze spielt mit einer Schnur.

   The cat is playing with a string.

   1846, edited by G. Phillips and G. Görres, Historisch-politische Blätter für das katholische Deutschland, 17th volume, München, page 809

   (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. to play, to engage in (a game, a sport, etc.) transitive, weak

   Karten spielen

   to play cards

3. to play, to perform (a piece of music, a role in theater or a movie) transitive, weak
4. to play, to listen to (a radio, a recording, etc.) transitive, weak
5. to play, to perform on (a musical instrument) transitive, weak

   Ich spiele Klavier

   I play the piano

6. to act like, to behave like transitive, weak

   den Narren spielen

   to play the fool

7. to take place, to be set (in a particular time or place; of fiction) intransitive, weak

   Das Spiel spielt in einer postapokalyptischen Zukunft.

   The game is set in a post-apocalyptic future.

Conjugation

Indicative

Subjunctive i

Subjunctive ii

Imperative

Translation

1. gerund of spielen form-of, gerund, neuter, no-plural, strong

Declension

Translation

to play

dative plural of Spiel

1. dative plural of Spiel dative, form-of, neuter, plural