Gothic verbs

Language component


title: "Gothic verbs" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["gothic-language", "indo-european-verbs"] description: "Language component" topic_path: "general/gothic-language" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_verbs" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Language component ::

Gothic verbs have the most complex conjugation of any attested Germanic language. Most categories reconstructed for the Proto-Germanic verb system are preserved in Gothic. Knowledge of the Proto-Germanic verb is itself to a large degree based on Gothic, meaning that its reconstruction may be fragmentary.

In conjugations, note that stem-final -b- /β/ and -d- /ð/ change spelling and pronunciation to become -f /ɸ/ and -þ /θ/ respectively at the end of a word. Stem final -g- /ɣ/ also presumably became /x/, but the spelling does not change. Similarly, verb stems ending in -ái-, -áu-, -ē-, -iu-, and -ō- become -aj-, -aw, -ai-, -iw, and -au- respectively, before vowels. Expected *áij, *áuw, and *iuw are always simplified into ái, áu, and iu (respectively).

Voice

Passive voice

Gothic retains a morphological passive voice inherited from the Indo-European medio-passive, but only in the present indicative and optative (the past tense uses periphrasis). This contrasts a present tense such as gibada ("is being given") with a past tense gibans was* ("was given, has been given"). In other Germanic languages, there are only rare survivals of the morphological passive, such as Old English hātte ("am called"). The Gothic infinitive did not indicate active or passive voice and is sometimes employed to translate Greek passive infinitives.

In the attested corpus of Gothic, passive forms are frequent only in the third person, and for weak verbs, mostly in class 1. The periphrastic passive consists of a participle, which agrees with the subject in gender and number, and a helping verb. The helping verb varies by aspect: wisan ("to be") creates a stative passive (gibans was*, "was given, has been given"), whereas the verb wairþan ("to become") creates an inchoative passive (gibans warþ, "came to be given, got given").

Class four weak verbs (infinitive in -nan) are agentless and do not take passive forms; they are used to translate Greek passives, and are sometimes referred to as passive as well, although this is not strictly correct.

Strong verbs

Germanic language strong verbs are verbs that change the vowel in the stem to form the past and past participle, rather than add a suffix. For an English example, contrast fall-fell-fallen (strong) from fell-felled (weak).

The following is a table of all the different types and subtypes of strong verbs. ::data[format=table]

Strong verb classesStem vowelClassSubclassGeneralPast 1Past 2Past Participle122a2b344a4b5677a7b
eiáii, aí (before h, ƕ, r)
iuáuu, aú (before h, ƕ, r)
ū
i, aí (before h, ƕ, r)au, aú (before h, ƕ, r)
i, aí (before h, ƕ, r)aēu, aú
u, aú (before h, ƕ, r)
i, aí (before h, ƕ, r)aēi, aí (before h, ƕ, r)
aōa
C+a, ā, ái, au, áu, ē, or ōCaíC+infinitive vowelsame as infinitive
C+ai, ēCaíCōsame as infinitive
::

The "general" stem is used for the present tense, infinitive and imperative. The "past 1" stem is used for the past tense indicative singular, and the "past 2" is used for the dual and plural indicative past as well as the optative past in all numbers.

Classes 5 and 6 have a small subclass of verbs that use the consonant suffix -j- in the general form, but drop it elsewhere

Reduplicating/ Class 7 strong verbs that begin with a vowel simply add aí- as a prefix, without adding a consonant to reduplicate or separate the "aí" prefix from the stem vowel.

The following strong verbs are extant in Gothic:

  • Class 1: beidan "to await" (báiþ), beitan "to bite", digan "to knead", dreiban "to drive" (dráif), greipan "to seize", hneiwan "to bow", bileiban "to remain" (biláif), ga-leiþan "to go", urreisan "to arise", skeinan "to shine", disskreitan "to rend", gasmeitan "to smear", sneiþan "to cut", speiwan "to spit", steigan "to ascend", sweiban "to cease" (swáif), weipan "to crown", inweitan "to worship";
  • Class 1, before h, ƕ, r: leiƕan "to lend", ga-teihan "to tell", þeihan "to thrive", þreihan "to press upon", weihan "to fight";
  • Class 2a: ana-biudan "to bid" (anabáuþ), biugan "to bend", driugan "to serve as a soldier", driusan "to fall", giutan "to pour", hiufan "to mourn", dishniupan "to break asunder", kiusan "to test", kriustan "to gnash"; liudan "to grow" (láuþ), liugan "to lie", fraliusan "to lose", niutan "to enjoy", siukan "to be sick", af-skiuban "to push aside" (afskáuf), sliupan "to slip", usþriutan "to trouble";
  • Class 2a, before h, ƕ, r: tiuhan "to lead", þliuhan "to flee";
  • Class 2b: galūkan "to shut";
  • Class 3: bindan "to bind", bliggwan "to beat", brinnan "to burn", drigkan "to drink", filhan "to hide", finþan "to find", usgildan "to repay", duginnan "to begin", hilpan "to help", frahinþan "to capture", aflinnan "to depart", rinnan "to run", siggwan "to sing", sigqan "to sink", fraslindan "to swallow up", spinnan "to spin", stigqan "to thrust", swiltan "to die", ana-trimpan "to tread on", atþinsan "to attract", þriskan "to thresh", wilwan "to rob", windan "to wind", winnan "to suffer", gawrisqan "to bear fruit";
  • Class 3, before h, ƕ, r: baírgan "to keep", ufgaírdan "to gird up", ƕaírban "to walk", afswaírban "to wipe out", gaþaírsan "to wither", waírpan "to throw", waírþan "to become";
  • Class 4a: brikan "to break", niman "to take", qiman "to come", stilan "to steal", ga-timan "to suit";
  • Class 4a, before h, ƕ, r: baíran "to bear", ga-taíran "to destroy";
  • Class 4b: trudan "to tread";
  • Class 5: diwan "to die" (dáu), fitan "to travail in birth", giban "to give" (gaf), bi-gitan "to find", hlifan "to steal", ligan "to lie down", lisan "to gather", mitan "to measure", ganisan "to be saved", niþan "to help", qiþan "to say", rikan "to heap up", sitan "to sit", sniwan "to hasten" (snáu), gawidan "to bind" (gawaþ), gawigan "to shake down", wisan "to be, remain", wrikan "to persecute";
  • Class 5, j-present: bidjan "to pray"
  • Class 5, irregular: fraíƕnan "to ask"; itan "to eat";
  • Class 5; before h, ƕ, r: saíƕan "to see";
  • Class 5; before h, ƕ, r; -n- present: fraíhnan "to ask";
  • Class 6: alan "to grow", usanan "to expire", ga-daban "to beseem" (gadōf), ga-draban "to hew out" (ga-drōf), ga-dragan "to heap up", faran "to go", graban "to dig" (grōf), af-hlaþan "to lade", malan "to grind", sakan "to rebuke", skaban "to shave" (skōf), slahan "to smite", swaran "to swear", þwahan "to wash", wakan "to wake";
  • Class 6, -j- present: fraþjan "to understand", hafjan "to raise", hlahjan "to laugh", ga-raþjan "to count", ga-skapjan "to create", skaþjan "to injure", wahsjan "to grow";
  • Class 6, irregular: standan "to stand" (stōþ);
  • Class 7a; -a- present: us-alþan "to grow old", blandan "to mix", falþan "to fold", gaggan "to go" (past supplied by iddja), haldan "to hold", anapraggan "to oppress", saltan "to salt", gastaldan "to possess", waldan "to rule";
  • Class 7a; -ā- present: fāhan "to seize", hāhan "to hang";
  • Class 7a; -ái- present: afáikan "to deny", fráisan "to tempt", háitan "to call", láikan "to leap", máitan "to cut", skáidan "to divide" (skaískáiþ), gaþláihan "to cherish, comforẗ";
  • Class 7a; -ē- present: uf-blēsan "to blow up, puff up", slēpan "to sleep";
  • Class 7a; -ō- present: blōtan "to worship", *flōkan "to bewail", ƕōpan "to boast";
  • Class 7a; -au- present: *lauan "to revile" (*laílō); possibly also *bnauan "to rub", which may be a Class III weak verb (see below);
  • Class 7a; -áu- present: áukan "to add", hláupan "to leap", stáutan "to smite";
  • Class 7b; -ē- present: grētan "to weep", lētan "to let", garēdan "to reflect upon" (garaírōþ), tēkan "to touch";
  • Class 7b; -ai- present: saian "to sow", *waian "to blow".

The following is a sample paradigm of a strong verb, niman "to take" (Class 4):

::data[format=table title="Strong verb conjugation"]

Niman, "to take"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
nima-anam-_nimada-adanimáu-áunēmjáu-jáunimáidáu-áidau
nimis-isnamt-tnimaza-azanimáis-áisnēmeis-eisnimáizáu-áizáunim-_
nimiþ-iþnam-_nimada-adanimái-áinēmi-inimáidáu-áidáunimadáu-adáu
nimōs-ōsnēmu-unimáiwa-áiwanēmeiwa-eiwa
nimats-atsnēmuts-utsnimáits-áitsnēmeits-eitsnimats-atsnimats-ats
nimam-amnēmum-umnimanda-andanimáima-áimanēmeima-eimanimáindáu-áindáunimam-am
nimiþ-iþnēmuþ-uþnimáiþ-áiþnēmeiþ-eiþnimiþ-iþ
nimand-andnēmun-unnimáina-áinanēmeina-einanimandáu-andáu
niman (-an)
nimands (-ands)
numans (-ans)
::

Weak verbs

Weak verbs in Germanic languages are defined by the past tense being formed by a suffix, rather than the stem vowel changing. In the case of Gothic, further subclasses are defined by the vowel that comes before the past-tense prefix, as well as other forms of the verb. Generally, the present tense, infinitive, and imperative share the same personal suffixes with strong verbs.

The following table outlines the common past-tense suffix between weak verbs; note that a thematic vowel is always used before this suffix: ::data[format=table]

Weak past-tense suffixSubjectIndicativeOptativeSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd person
-da-dēdjáu
-dēs-dēdeis
-da-dēdi
-dēdu-dēdeiwa
-dēduts-dēdeits
-dēdum-dēdeima
-dēduþ-dēdeiþ
-dēdun-dēdeina
::

Class 1

Class 1 verbs are defined by having the thematic vowel -i-; which becomes -j- before vowels and becomes -ei- after long stems before -i-. The following is a sample paradigm of two class 1 weak verbs, nasjan "to save" (short stem-syllable), and sōkjan "to seek" (long stem-syllable; only differing forms shown):

::data[format=table title="Class 1 weak verb conjugation"]

Nasjan, "to save";IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
nasja-janasida-idanasjada-jadanasjáu-jáunasidēdjáu-idēdjáunasjáidáu-jáidáu
nasjis/ sōkeis-jis/ -eisnasidēs-idēsnasjaza-jazanasjáis-jáisnasidēdeis-idēdeisnasjáizáu-jáizáunasei-ei
nasjiþ/ sōkeiþ-jiþ/ -eiþnasida-idanasjada-jadanasjái-jáinasidēdi-idēdinasjáidáu-jáidáunasjadáu-jadáu
nasjōs-jōsnasidēdu-idēdunasjáiwa-jáiwanasidēdeiwa-idēdeiwa
nasjats-jatsnasidēduts-idēdutsnasjáits-jáitsnasidēdeits-idēdeitsnasjats-jatsnasjats-jats
nasjam-jamnasidēdum-idēdumnasjanda-jandanasjáima-jáimanasidēdeima-idēdeimanasjáindáu-jáindáunasjam-jam
nasjiþ/ sōkeiþ-jiþ/ -eiþnasidēduþ-idēduþnasjáiþ-jáiþnasidēdeiþ-idēdeiþnasjiþ/ sōkeiþ-jiþ/ -eiþ
nasjand-jandnasidēdun-idēdunnasjáina-jáinanasidēdeina-idēdeinanasjandáu-jandáu
nasjan (-jan)
nasjands (-jands)
nasiþs (-iþs)
::

Some class 1 verbs have an irregular past due to the fact that the -i- in the past was lost in Proto-Germanic: ::data[format=table]

Class 1 stem-changing verbsGeneral stemInfinitivePast stemPast ParticipleMeaning
brigg-brigganbrāht-*brāhts"to bring"
brūkj-brūkjanbrūht-*brūhts"to use"
bugj-bugjanbaúht-*baúhts"to buy"
gagg-gagganiddja, gaggidagaggans"to go"
káupatj-káupatjankáupast-káupatiþs"to buffet"
þagkj-þagkjanþāht-þāhts"to think"
þugkj-þugkjanþūht-þūhts"to seem"
waúrkj-waúrkjanwaúrht-waúrhts"to work"
::
  • gaggan is properly a Class 7 strong verb. iddja is declined like a weak verb. A weak past gaggida also occurs once.
  • briggan is properly a Class 3 strong verb, with other parts taken from a lost verb *braggjan (cf. Old English breng(e)an, Old Saxon brengian).

Class 2

Class 2 weak verbs are defined by having the thematic vowel -ō-.

The following is a sample paradigm of a class 2 weak verb, salbōn "to anoint":

::data[format=table title="Class 2 weak verb conjugation"]

Salbōn, "to anoint"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
salbōsalbōda-ōdasalbōda-ōdasalbōsalbōdēdjáu-ōdēdjáusalbōdáu-ōdau
salbōs-ōssalbōdēs-ōdēssalbōza-ōzasalbōs-ōssalbōdēdeis-ōdēdeissalbōzáu-ōzáusalbō
salbōþ-ōþsalbōda-ōdasalbōda-ōdasalbōsalbōdēdi-ōdēdisalbōdáu-ōdáusalbōdáu-ōdáu
salbōs-ōssalbōdēdu-ōdēdusalbōwa-ōwasalbōdēdeiwa-ōdēdeiwa
salbōts-ōtssalbōdēduts-ōdēdutssalbōts-ōtssalbōdēdeits-ōdēdeitssalbōts-ōtssalbōts-ōts
salbōm-ōmsalbōdēdum-ōdēdumsalbōnda-ōndasalbōma-ōmasalbōdēdeima-ōdēdeimasalbōndáu-ōndáusalbōm-ōm
salbōþ-ōþsalbōdēduþ-ōdēduþsalbōþ-ōþsalbōdēdeiþ-ōdēdeiþsalbōþ-ōþ
salbōnd-ōndsalbōdēdun-ōdēdunsalbōna-ōnasalbōdēdeina-ōdēdeinasalbōndáu-ōndáu
salbōn (-ōn)
salbōnds (-ōnds)
salbōþs (-ōþs)
::

Class 3

Class 3 weak verbs are marked by having the vowels -a- and -ái- as the thematic vowels. The two thematic vowels are used differently depending on form, with only -ái- being used in the past tense.

The following is a sample paradigm of a class 3 weak verb, haban "to have":

::data[format=table title="Class 3 weak verb conjugation"]

Haban, "to have"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
haba-ahabáida-áidahabada-adahabáu-áuhabáidēdjáu-áidēdjáuhabáidáu-áidáu
habáis-áishabáidēs-áidēshabaza-azahabáis-áishabáidēdeis-áidēdeishabáizáu-áizáuhabái-ái
habáiþ-áiþhabáida-áidahabada-adahabái-áihabáidēdi-áidēdihabáidáu-áidáuhabadáu-adáu
habōs-ōshabáidēdu-áidēduhabáiwa-áiwahabáidēdeiwa-áidēdeiwa
habats-atshabáidēduts-áidēdutshabáits-áitshabáidēdeits-áidēdeitshabats-atshabats-ats
habam-amhabáidēdum-áidēdumhabanda-andahabáima-áimahabáidēdeima-áidēdeimahabáindáu-áindáuhabam-am
habáiþ-áiþhabáidēduþ-áidēduþhabáiþ-áiþhabáidēdeiþ-áidēdeiþhabáiþ-áiþ
haband-andhabáidēdun-áidēdunhabáina-áinahabáidēdeina-áidēdeinahabandáu-andáu
haban (-an)
habands (-ands)
habáiþs (-áiþs)
::

Class 3 is apparently a closed class, containing only the following verbs:

áistan "to reverence", ana-silan "to be silent", andstaúrran "to murmur against", arman "to pity", bauan "to dwell", fastan "to fast, hold firm", fijan "to hate", gageigan "to gain", gakunnan "to recognize", haban "to have", hatan "to hate", jiukan "to contend", leikan "to please", liban "to live", liugan "to marry", maúrnan "to mourn", munan "to consider", reiran "to tremble", saúrgan "to sorrow", sifan "to rejoice", skaman (sik) "to be ashamed", slawan "to be silent", trauan "to trust", swēran "to honour", þahan "to be silent", witan "to watch, observe".

Possibly also *bnauan "to rub" belongs here—only the present participle occurs, which is not enough to tell whether this is a Class 3 weak verb or Class 7 strong verb.

Notes:

  • bauan "to dwell" was originally a Class 7 strong verb (cf. Old Icelandic būa "to dwell", past singular bjō, past participle būenn), and the third singular present indicative is still normally bauiþ, a strong form (vs. *bauáiþ, the expected weak form).
  • hatan also occurs as a Class 1 weak verb hatjan.

Class 4

Class 4 weak verbs have the suffix -n, in addition to a thematic vowel -ō- in the past tense. In all other tenses, the suffix -n is used before strong verb suffixes.

The following is a sample paradigm of a class 4 weak verb, fullnan "to become full":

::data[format=table title="Class 4 weak verb conjugation"]

Fullnan, "to become full"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
fullna-nafullnōda-nōdafullnada-nadafullnáu-náufullnōdēdjáu-nōdēdjáufullnáidáu-náidáu
fullnis-nisfullnōdēs-nōdēsfullnaza-nazafullnáis-náisfullnōdēdeis-nōdēdeisfullnáizáu-náizáufulln-n
fullniþ-niþfullnōda-nōdafullnada-nadafullnái-náifullnōdēdi-nōdēdifullnáidáu-náidáufullnadáu-nadáu
fullnōs-nōsfullnōdēdu-nōdēdufullnáiwa-náiwafullnōdēdeiwa-nōdēdeiwa
fullnats-natsfullnōdēduts-nōdēdutsfullnáits-náitsfullnōdēdeits-nōdēdeitsfullnats-natsfullnats-nats
fullnam-namfullnōdēdum-nōdēdumfullnanda-nandafullnáima-náimafullnōdēdeima-nōdēdeimafullnáindáu-náindáufullnam-nam
fullniþ-niþfullnōdēduþ-nōdēduþfullnáiþ-náiþfullnōdēdeiþ-nōdēdeiþfullniþ-niþ
fullnand-nandfullnōdēdun-nōdēdunfullnáina-náinafullnōdēdeina-nōdēdeinafullnandáu-nandáu
fullnan (-nan)
fullnands (-nands)
fullnōþs (-nōþs)
::

Preterite-present verbs

So-called "preterite-present verbs" are a feature of Germanic languages that have a present tense formed like the past tense (or "preterite") of strong verbs. The verbs often have the semantics of modal verbs, and in fact the present-day English modal verbs "can, could, may, might, shall, should, must" are descended from Old English preterite-present verbs. The past tense of these verbs is a new formation and has the endings of weak verbs. Arguably, all seven classes of strong verbs are represented in Gothic by at least one preterite-present verb.

The following table presents almost all extant forms of each of the existing preterite-present verbs in Gothic. Many of the missing forms can be derived from existing forms as the number of principal parts is small—in fact, three is usually enough: First/third person singular present indicative, first (or third) person plural present indicative, first/third person singular past indicative. However, occasional small irregularities may occur, and the table below errs on the side of under-generalization. Forms with an *italicized asterisk are reconstructions based on knowledge of other forms or forms from other Germanic languages.

Furthermore, present participles are given a gloss, since the participle often has an unpredictable meaning; especially when the verb in question is inherently intransitive. *ōgan ("to fear") is the only verb in the group known to have an imperative. ::data[format=table title="Preterite-present verb corpus"]

Preterite-present corpusInfintiveParticipleIndicativeOptativeImperativePresentPastPresentPastPresentPastClassVerb1to knowSingular1st person3rd personto knowSingular1st person2nd person3rd personPlural1st person2to be good forSingular1st person3rd person3to dareSingular1st person3rd personPlural1st personto knowSingular1st person2nd person3rd personPlural1st personto needSingular1st person2nd person3rd personPlural1st person4to be allowedSingular1st person3rd personto sufficeSingular1st person3rd personto thinkSingular1st person2nd person3rd personPlural1st personshall; to oweSingular1st person2nd person3rd personPlural1st person5can; maySingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person6to find roomSingular1st person3rd personto fearSingular1st person2nd person3rd personPlural1st person7to haveSingular1st person2nd person3rd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd person
láis
láis
witandswáitwissawitjáuwissēdjáu
wáist
wáitwissa
witum
dáug
dáug
gadaúrsangadarsgadaúrstagadaúrstjáu
gadarsgadaúrsta
gadaúrsum
kunnankunnandskunþskannkunþakunþēdjáu
kant
kannkunþa
kunnum
þaúrbandsþaúrftsþarfþaúrftaþaúrbjáu
þarft
þarfþaúrfta
þaúrbum
binaúhtsbinah
binah
ganah
ganah
munanmunandsmundsmanmunjáu
mant
man
munum
skulandsskuldsskalskuldaskuljáuskuldēdjáu
skalt
skalskulda
skulum
magandsmahtsmagmahtamagjáumahtēdjáu
magt
mag
magu
maguts
magum
gamōtgamōstagamōtjáu
gamōtgamōsta
(un-agands; "fearless")ōgōhtaōgjáu
ōgs
ōgōhta
ōgeiþ
áigandsáigáihta
áihtēdeis
áigáihtaáigi
áigum
áiguþ
áigun
::

Stem-final -g- in magan, ōgan, and áigan is often changed to -h-, especially before voiceless consonants. Áigan has the derivative faír-áigan ("to partake of").

Presumed verbal stems, given the extant forms: ::data[format=table title="Preterite-present verb stems"]

Preterite present stemsStemPast Participle Meaning (if differing)Present 1Present 2PastClassInfinitiveMeaning1lisanto knowwitanto know2duganto be good for3gadaúrsanto darekunnanto knowþaúrbanto need4binaúhanto be allowedganaúhanto be enoughmunanto thinkskulanto shall, to owe5maganto be able to, can; to may6gamōtanto find roomōganto fear7áiganto have
láis-*lis-*list-
wáit-wit-wiss-
dáug-*dug-*dáuht-
gadars-gadaúrs-gadaúrst-
kann-kunn-kunþ-known
þarb-þaúrb-þaúrft-necessary
binah-*binaúh-binaúht-enough
ganaúh-*ganaúh-*ganaúht-
man-mun-mund-
skal-skul-skuld-owing
mag-maht-
gamōt-mōst-
ōg-ōht-("fearless", un-agands)
áig-áiht-
::

"Present 1" refers to the indicative present singular personal forms, and "Present 2" refers to all other forms in the present; as well as the imperative and infinitive.

Presumed subject suffixes, given the extant forms: ::data[format=table title="Preterite-present verb suffixes"]

Preterite-present suffixesIndicativeOptativeImperativePresentPastPresentPastSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent participlePast participle
-_-a-jáu-ēdjáú
-t*-ēs-eis-ēdeis-s
-_-a-i*-ēdi
-u*-ēdu*-eiwa*-ēdeiwa
-uts*-ēduts*-eits*-ēdeits
-um*-ēdum-eima*-ēdeima
-uþ*-ēduþ-eiþ*-ēdeiþ-eiþ
-un*-ēdun-eina*-ēdeina
-an
-ands
-s
::

Irregular verbs

Suppletive verbs

''Wisan'', "to be"

This highly irregular verb derives from two different Proto-Indo-European roots by suppletion; see Indo-European copula for more. ::data[format=table title="''Wisan'' conjugation"]

Wisan, "to be"IndicativeOptativePresentPastPresentPastSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
imwassijáuwēsjáu
iswastsijáiswēseis
istwassijáiwēsi
sijuwēsu*sijáiwawēseiwa
*sijutswēsuts*sijáitswēseits
sijumwēsumsijáimawēseima
sijuþwēsuþsijáiþwēseiþ
sindwēsunsijáinawēseina
wisan
wisands
wisans
::

''Briggan'', "to bring"

::data[format=table title="''Briggan'' conjugation"]

Briggan, "to bring"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPastSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
briggabrāhtabriggadabriggáubrāhtēdjáubriggáidáu
briggisbrāhtēsbriggazabriggáisbrāhtēdeisbriggáizáubrigg
briggiþbrāhtabriggadabriggáisbrāhtēdibriggáidáubriggadáu
briggōsbrāhtēdubriggáiwabrāhtēdeiwa
briggatsbrāhtēdutsbriggáitsbrāhtēdeitsbriggatsbriggats
briggambrāhtēdumbriggandabriggáimabrāhtēdeimabriggáindáubriggam
briggiþbrāhtēduþbriggáiþbrāhtēdeiþbriggiþ
briggandbrāhtēdunbriggáinabrāhtēdeinabriggandáu
briggan
briggands
brāhts
::

''Gaggan'', "to go"

::data[format=table title="''Gaggan'' conjugation"]

Gaggan, "to go"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPastSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
gaggaiddjagaggadagaggáuiddjēdjáugaggáidáu
gaggisiddjēsgaggazagaggáisiddjēdeisgaggáizáugagg
gaggiþiddjagaggadagaggáiiddjēdigaggáidáugaggadáu
gaggōsiddjēdugaggáiwaiddjēdeiwa
gaggatsiddjēdutsgaggáitsiddjēdeitsgaggatsgaggats
gaggamiddjēdumgaggandagaggáimaiddjēdeimagaggáindáugaggam
gaggiþiddjēduþgaggáiþiddjēdeitsgaggiþ
gaggandiddjēdungaggáinaiddjēdeinagaggandáu
gaggan
gaggands
gaggiþs
::

''Wiljan'', "to want/will"

This irregular verb derives from the fossilized optative mood of a Proto-Indo-European verb (not to be confused with the Gothic mood known as optative, which corresponds to the subjunctive mood of PIE and other Germanic languages).

It lacks present indicative and passive forms. ::data[format=table title="''Wiljan'' conjugation"]

Wiljan, "to want, to will"IndicativeOptativePastPresentPastSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent Participle
wildawiljáuwildēdjáu
wildēswileiswildēdeis
wildawiliwildēdi
wildēduwileiwawildēdeiwa
wildēdutswileitswildēdeits
wildēdumwileimawildēdeima
wildēduþwileiþwildēdeiþ
wildēdunwileinawildēdeina
wiljan
wiljands
::

Irregular strong verbs

''Fraíhnan'', "to ask"

::data[format=table title="''Fraíhnan'' conjugation"]

Fraíhnan, "to ask"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
fraíhnafrahfraíhnadafraíhnáufrēhjáufraíhnáidáu
fraíhnisfrahtfraíhnazafraíhnáisfrēheisfraíhnáizáufraíhn
fraíhniþfrahfraíhnadafraíhnáifrēhifraíhnáidáufraíhnadáu
fraíhnōsfrēhufraíhnáiwafrēheiwa
fraíhnatsfrēhutsfraíhnáitsfrēheitsfraíhnatsfraíhnats
fraíhnamfrēhumfraíhandáufraíhnáimafrēheimafraíhnáindáufraíhnam
fraíhniþfrēhuþfraíhnáiþfrēheiþfraíhniþ
fraíhnandfrēhunfraíhnáinafrēheinafraíhnandáu
fraíhnan
fraíhnands
fraíhans
::

''Itan'', "to eat"

::data[format=table title="''Itan'' conjugation"]

Itan, "to eat"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
itaētitadaitáuētjáuitáidáu
itisēttitazaitáisēteisitáizáuit
itiþētitadaitáiētiitáidauitadáu
itōsētuitáiwaēteiwa
itatsētutsitáitsēteitsitatsitats
itamētumitandaitáimaēteimaitáindáuitam
itiþētuþitáiþēteiþitiþ
itandētunitáinaēteinaitandáu
itan
itands
itans
::

''Standan'', "to stand"

::data[format=table title="''Standan'' conjugation"]

Standan, "to stand"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
standastōþstandadastandáustōdjáustandáidáu
standisstōststandazastandáisstōdeisstandáizáustand
standiþstōþstandadastandáistōdistandáidáustandáu
standōsstōdustandáiwastōdeiwa
standatsstōdutsstandáitsstōdeitsstandatsstandats
standamstōdumstandandastandáimastōdeimastandáindáustandam
standiþstōduþstandáiþstōdeiþstandiþ
standandstōdunstandáinastōdeinastandandáu
standan
standands
standans
::

Irregular weak verbs

''Brūkjan'', "to use"

::data[format=table title="''Brūkjan'' conjugation"]

Brūkjan, "to use"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
brūkjabrūhtabrūkjadabrūkjáubrūhtēdjáubrūkjáidáu
brūkeisbrūhtēsbrūkjazabrūkjáisbrūhtēdeisbrūkjáizáubrūkei
brūkeiþbrūhtabrūkjadabrūkjáibrūhtēdibrūkjáidáubrūkjadáu
brūkjōsbrūhtēdubrūkjáiwabrūhtēdeiwa
brūkjatsbrūhtēdutsbrūkjáitsbrūhtēdeitsbrūkjatsbrūkjats
brūkjambrūhtēdumbrūkjandabrūkjáimabrūhtēdeimabrūkjáindáubrūkjam
brūkeiþbrūhtēduþbrūkjáiþbrūhtēdeiþbrūkeiþ
brūkjandbrūhtēdunbrūkjáinabrūhtēdeinabrūkjandáu
brūkjan
brūkjands
brūhts
::

''Bugjan'', "to buy"

::data[format=table title="''Bugjan'' conjugation"]

Bugjan, "to buy"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
bugjabaúhtabugjadabugjáubaúhtēdjáubugjáizáu
bugjisbaúhtēsbugjazabugjáisbaúhtēdeisbugjáizáubugei
bugjiþbaúhtabugjadabugjáibaúhtēdibugjáidáubugjadáu
bugjōsbaúhtēdubugjáiwabaúhtēdeiwa
bugjatsbaúhtēdutsbugjáitsbaúhtēdeitsbugjatsbugjats
bugjambaúhtēdumbugjandabugjáimabaúhtēdeimabugjáindáubugjam
bugjiþbaúhtēduþbugjáiþbaúhtēdeiþbugjiþ
bugjandbaúhtēdunbugjáinabaúhtēdeinabugjandáu
bugjan
bugjands
baúhts
::

''Káupatjan'', "to slap"

::data[format=table title="''Káupatjan'' conjugation"]

Káuptjan, "to slap"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
káupatjakáupastakáupatjadakáupatjáukáupastēdjáukáupatjáidáu
káupatjiskáupastēskáupatjazakáupatjáiskáupastēdeiskáupatjáizáukáupatei
káupatjiþkáupastakáupatjadakáupatjáikáupastēdikáuptjáidáukáupatjadáu
káupatjōskáupastēdukáupatjáiwakáupastēdeiwa
káupatjatskáupastēdutskáupatjáitskáupastēdeitskáupatjatskáupatjats
káupatjamkáupastēdumkáupatjandakáupatjáimakáupastēdeimakáupatjáindáukáupatjam
káupatjiþkáupastēduþkáupatjáiþkáupastēdeiþkáupatjiþ
káupatjandkáupastēdunkáupatjáinakáupastēdeinakáupatjandáu
káupatjan
káupatjands
káupatiþs
::

''Þagkjan'', "to think"

::data[format=table title="''Þagkjan'', "to think""]

Þagkjan, "to think"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
þagkjaþāhtaþagkjadaþagkjáuþāhtēdjáuþagkjáidáu
þagkjisþāhtēsþagkjazaþagkjáisþāhtēdeisþagkjáizáuþagkei
þagkjiþþāhtaþagkjadaþagkjáiþāhtēdiþagkjáidáuþagkjadáu
þagkjōsþāhtēduþagkjáiwaþāhtēdeiwa
þagkjatsþāhtēdutsþagkjáitsþāhtēdeitsþagkjatsþagkjats
þagkjamþāhtēdumþagkjandaþagkjáimaþāhtēdeimaþagkjáindáuþagkjam
þagkjiþþāhtēduþþagkjáiþþāhtēdeiþþagkjiþ
þagkjandþāhtēdunþagkjáinaþāhtēdeinaþagkjandáu
þagkjan
þagkjands
þāhts
::

''Þugkjan'', "to seem"

::data[format=table title="''Þugkjan'' conjugation"]

Þugkjan, "to seem"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
þugkjaþūhtaþugkjadaþugkjáuþūhtēdjáuþugkjáidáu
þugkjisþūhtēsþugkjazaþugkjáisþūhtēdeisþugkjáizáuþugkei
þugkjiþþūhtaþugkjadaþugkjáiþūhtēdiþugkjáidáuþugkjadáu
þugkjōsþūhtēduþugkjáiwaþūhtēdeiwa
þugkjatsþūhtēdutsþugkjáitsþūhtēdeitsþugkjatsþugkjats
þugkjamþūhtēdumþugkjandaþugkjáimaþūhtēdeimaþugkjáindáuþugkjam
þugkjiþþūhtēduþþugkjáiþþūhtēdeiþþugkjiþ
þugkjandþūhtēdunþugkjáiwaþūhtēdeinaþugkjandáu
þugkjan
þugkjands
þūhts
::

''Waúrkjan'', "to work"

::data[format=table title="''Waúrkjan'' conjugation"]

Waúrkjan, "to work"IndicativeOptativeImperativeActivePassiveActivePassivePresentPastPresentPresentPastPresentSingular1st person2nd person3rd personDual1st person2nd personPlural1st person2nd person3rd personInfinitivePresent ParticiplePast Participle
waúrkjawaúrhtawaúrkjadawaúrkjáuwaúrhtēdjáuwaúrkjáidáu
waúrkjiswaúrhtēswaúrkjazawaúrkjáiswaúrhtēdeiswaúrkjáizáuwaúrkei
waúrkjiþwaúrhtawaúrkjadawaúrkjáiwaúrhtēdiwaúrkjáidáuwaúrkjadáu
waúrkjōswaúrhtēduwaúrkjáiwawaúrtēdeiwa
waúrkjatswaúrhtēdutswaúrkjáitswaúrhtēdeitswaúrkjatswaúrkjats
waúrkjamwaúrhtēdumwaúrkjandawaúrkjáimawaúrhtēdeimawaúkjáindáuwaúrkjam
waúrkjiþwaúrhtēduþwaúrkjáiþwaúrhtēdeiþwaúrkjiþ
waúrkjandwaúrtēdunwaúrkjáinawaúrhtēdeinawaúrkjandáu
waúrkjan
waúrkands
waúrhts
::

References

Works cited

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gothic-languageindo-european-verbs