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bilden

form

verb BIL-den Common
People & Society Education

Also means

educate

Usage Note

bilden means to form or shape something, and reflexively sich bilden means to educate oneself. It underlies the key noun Bildung ('education'), a cornerstone concept in German society. Note the separable cousin ausbilden ('to train' professionally).

Examples

"Die Schüler bilden eine Reihe."

Natural Translation

The pupils form a line.

Literal Translation

The pupils form a row.

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