wirtschaften
Translation
managed economically, ran a business, farmed
Examples
Sie wirtschafteten sehr sparsam.
They managed their finances very frugally.
Früher wirtschafteten die Menschen anders.
In the past, people managed their economies differently.
Die Bauern wirtschafteten auf den Feldern.
The farmers worked the fields.
Grammar Patterns
((well/poorly)) to manage well/poorly They managed their finances very frugally.
Similar Words
haushalteten, verwalteten
Etymology
Simple past (Präteritum) of the verb 'wirtschaften'. It combines the stem 'wirtschaft-' with the past tense plural ending '-eten'.
Memory Tips
Recognize the '-eten' ending as the simple past for plural subjects (wir, sie, Sie). It's the past action of 'managing' or 'doing business'.