verb

verloben

engage · get engaged

Definition & meaning

The verb verloben refers to the act of becoming engaged to be married. When two people decide to marry each other, they enter into a formal agreement or promise to wed.

Reflexive usage (sich verloben): This is the most common usage, meaning "to get engaged." It describes the mutual decision of two people to marry.
Adjectival usage (verlobt): The past participle is frequently used as an adjective to describe someone who is currently engaged (e.g., "Ich bin verlobt" - I am engaged).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: It is a regular (weak) verb. It is almost exclusively used in the reflexive form: sich verloben.
- Present tense: ich verlobe mich, du verlobst dich, er/sie/es verlobt sich.
- Past tense: verlobte sich.
- Perfect tense: hat sich verlobt.
Word origin: The word comes from the Middle High German verloben, which is derived from the noun Lobe (promise/pledge) and the prefix ver-. It literally means "to give one's word" or "to make a binding pledge" to someone else.