mitgeben

Definition & meaning

mitgeben is a separable German verb meaning to give someone something to take along.

1. To give or provide something for a journey or activity
   It is commonly used when giving someone food, money, documents, or another item to take with them.

   • Die Mutter gibt ihrem Kind ein Pausenbrot mit. — The mother gives her child a snack to take along.
   • Kannst du mir deinen Schlüssel mitgeben? — Can you give me your key to take with me?

2. To give someone advice, instructions, or a message to remember
   In this sense, it can mean to impart or to send someone off with something abstract.

   • Der Lehrer gab den Schülern wichtige Ratschläge mit. — The teacher gave the students important advice to take with them.
   • Sie gab ihm einige gute Gedanken mit auf den Weg. — She sent him off with some good thoughts.

3. To give something a particular quality or message
   In a more figurative or literary use, mitgeben can describe giving a person, story, or work a certain characteristic, message, or meaning.

   • Der Autor gibt der Geschichte eine humorvolle Note mit. — The author gives the story a humorous touch.

Grammar & Word origin

mitgeben consists of:

• mit — along, with
• geben — to give

It is a separable verb. In a main clause, mit moves to the end:

• Ich gebe dir etwas mit. — I am giving you something to take along.
• Sie gibt ihrem Sohn Geld mit. — She gives her son money to take with him.

The person receiving something usually appears in the dative, while the thing being given appears in the accusative:

• jemandem etwas mitgeben — to give someone something to take along

Important forms:

• Infinitive: mitgeben
• Third-person singular: gibt mit
• Simple past: gab mit
• Past participle: mitgegeben
• Perfect tense: hat mitgegeben

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

• aushändigen ↗ — to hand something over formally; unlike mitgeben, it emphasizes the act of handing over rather than taking something along.
• beilegen ↗ — to include or enclose something, especially in a letter or package; it is mainly used for objects placed inside something else.
• überreichen ↗ — to present or hand something to someone, often politely or ceremonially.
• mit auf den Weg geben ↗ — to send someone off with advice, wishes, or a message; this is especially common in the figurative meaning.

Antonyms

There is no single exact antonym in every context. Depending on the meaning, possible opposites include:

• vorenthalten ↗ — to withhold something that could have been given.
• zurückbehalten ↗ — to keep something instead of giving it to someone.
• wegnehmen ↗ — to take something away, which is the opposite of providing or giving it.

Common phrases & collocations

• jemandem etwas mitgeben ↗ — to give someone something to take along
• Essen mitgeben ↗ — to give someone food to take with them
• Geld mitgeben ↗ — to give someone money to take along
• Hausaufgaben mitgeben ↗ — to assign or give homework to take home
• Ratschläge mitgeben ↗ — to give someone advice to remember
• jemandem etwas mit auf den Weg geben ↗ — to send someone off with advice, wishes, or encouragement