handeln
Translation
to act, to trade, to deal, to be about
Examples
Ich handele immer nach bestem Wissen.
I always act to the best of my knowledge.
Der Film handelt von Liebe.
The film is about love.
Er handelt mit seltenen Büchern.
He deals in rare books.
Es handelt sich um ein Missverständnis.
It is a misunderstanding.
Grammar Patterns
handeln to act He acts quickly.
von+3 handeln to be about sth. The novel is about an adventure.
mit+3 handeln to trade in sth. She trades in jewelry.
sich um+4 handeln to be a matter of sth. It is an important project.
Similar Words
Synonyms: agieren (to operate), tun (to do); Antonyms: zögern (to hesitate), unterlassen (to refrain)
Etymology
Derived from 'Hand' (hand), originally meaning to do something with one's hands.
Memory Tips
Connect it to the English word 'handle'. To 'handle' a situation is to 'handeln' (act).