VocabuoDictionaryGet the app
other

sich einbilden

imagine

Definition & meaning

Sich einbilden has several related meanings:

  1. To imagine or believe something that is not true, often without good reason.
    Er bildet sich ein, dass jemand im Haus ist. — “He imagines that someone is in the house.”

  2. To fancy or think oneself to be a certain way, sometimes implying excessive pride or self-importance.
    Sie bildet sich viel auf ihren Erfolg ein. — “She is very proud of her success” or “She thinks a lot of herself because of her success.”

The exact meaning depends on context: it can describe an unfounded belief, or a conceited attitude.

Grammar & Word origin

Sich einbilden is a reflexive, separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix ein- moves to the end: Er bildet sich das ein. Its past participle is eingebildet.

The reflexive pronoun is usually in the dative when another object or a subordinate clause follows: Ich bilde mir ein, ihn gesehen zu haben (“I imagine I saw him”). The construction sich etwas auf etwas einbilden means to be proud or conceited about something.

The verb combines ein- (“in” or “into”) and bilden (“to form” or “to shape”): originally, to form an image in one’s mind.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary by meaning:

  • sich vorstellen — “to imagine”; generally more neutral and often describes deliberately picturing something.
  • sich ausdenken — “to make up” or “to invent”; emphasizes creating an idea or story, rather than mistakenly believing it.
  • sich täuschen — “to be mistaken”; focuses on the error rather than the act of imagining.
  • eingebildet sein — “to be conceited”; specifically describes an arrogant attitude.

There is no single direct antonym for all senses. Depending on context:

  • wissen — “to know”; contrasts with imagining or believing something without evidence.
  • bescheiden sein — “to be modest”; contrasts with being conceited.

Common phrases & collocations

  • sich etwas einbilden — to imagine something or believe it without sufficient grounds.
  • sich einbilden, dass … — to imagine or mistakenly believe that …
  • sich viel auf etwas einbilden — to be very proud of something, sometimes conceitedly.

Make “sich einbilden” part of your vocabulary.

Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Get Vocabuo on the App StoreGet Vocabuo for Android

Examples

Ich habe mir den Lärm nur eingebildet.other

I only imagined the noise.

Sie bildet sich ein, alles zu wissen.other

She imagines that she knows everything.

Keep exploring German

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play