The Difference Between “wechseln” and “tauschen” in German
If you are learning German, you might come across the verbs "wechseln" and "tauschen". At first, they can seem very similar, because both can be translated as “to change” or “to exchange”. But they are not always used in the same situations. In this article, we will explain what each word means, how to use them correctly, and what the difference is between them.
Recommended study materials on the topic:
A-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
German self-study book for A1-B1 (incl. answers)
German Verb Charts: Learning Regular and Irregular Verbs at a glance
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What does "wechseln" mean?
"Wechseln" is a regular verb in German. It means to change or to switch something. It is used when you change one thing for another of the same kind, often with your own belongings or actions.
Examples of when to use “wechseln”:
Ich wechsle mein Hemd. → I change my shirt.
Kannst du den Reifen wechseln? → Can you change the tire?
Ich muss Geld wechseln. → I need to exchange money.
In all these examples, you are replacing something, like your clothes, money, or a car tire. The important part: you are not swapping with someone else, but rather changing something for yourself.
Conjugation of “wechseln” in Präsens (present tense):
“Wechseln” is a regular verbs and you conjugate it as follows in present tense.
ich wechsle
du wechselst
er/sie/es wechselt
wir wechseln
ihr wechselt
sie/Sie wechseln
Grammar Tip: The “-eln” Ending and the Missing “e”
The verb wechseln ends in -eln, and that has a small but important effect on its conjugation.
In the ich-form (first person singular), the extra "e" is dropped.
✅ Correct: ich wechsle
❌ Incorrect: ich wechsele
This is a very common mistake, even among native German speakers! So don’t worry too much but try to speak and write correctly.
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What does "tauschen" mean?
"Tauschen" is also a regular verb, and it means to exchange, to swap, or to trade. You use tauschen when two people give something to each other and there is a mutual exchange.
Examples of when to use “tauschen”:
Wir tauschen Telefonnummern. → We exchange phone numbers.
Ich möchte mein Sandwich gegen dein Stück Kuchen tauschen. → I want to trade my sandwich for your piece of cake.
Die Kinder tauschen Spielkarten. → The kids are swapping trading cards.
In all these situations, there is a give-and-take between two people. That’s the key difference from “wechseln”.
Conjugation of "tauschen" in Präsens:
ich tausche
du tauschst
er/sie/es tauscht
wir tauschen
ihr tauscht
sie/Sie tauschen
Remember: Use wechseln when you change something for yourself, and tauschen when you exchange something with someone else.
The Key Difference: Personal vs. Mutual Exchange
| wechseln | tauschen |
|---|---|
| You change something for yourself | You swap something with someone else |
| Involves replacing or updating something | Involves giving and receiving between people |
| Common with clothes, tires, money | Common with gifts, information, or items |
| Focus: personal action | Focus: mutual exchange |
Common Collocations (Words that Go Together)
Use “wechseln” with:
das Hemd wechseln → to change your shirt
den Reifen wechseln → to change the tire
Geld wechseln → to exchange currency
Use “tauschen” with:
Plätze tauschen → to swap seats
Informationen tauschen → to exchange information
Geschenke tauschen → to exchange gifts
Final Tips for Learners
Use wechseln when you are simply replacing something for yourself.
Use tauschen when you are giving and receiving something with another person.
And remember: it's ich wechsle, not ich wechsele — even many Germans get this wrong!
Conclusion
Now you know the difference between wechseln and tauschen! Keep practicing, and soon, you'll use these words with confidence. If you want more simple German lessons, check out the difference between “tauschen” and “vertauschen”.
Bis bald!
Steffie
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