verdienen
Translation
to earn, to deserve
Examples
Er verdient viel Geld.
He earns a lot of money.
Sie hat eine Pause verdient.
She has deserved a break.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to earn (sth.) He earns a lot of money.
((sth.)) to deserve (sth.) She has deserved a break.
Similar Words
Synonyms: (to earn) bekommen, erhalten; (to deserve) wert sein
Etymology
Comes from the prefix 'ver-' plus 'dienen' (to serve). It conveys the meaning of 'gaining something by serving'.
Memory Tips
Think of it this way: you 'serve' (dienen) at work to 'earn' (verdienen) a salary, and if you do a great job, you 'deserve' (verdienen) a bonus.