German Phrase
Ich habe Gitarre geübt.
Meaning
This sentence means 'I practiced guitar.' It indicates that the speaker spent time rehearsing on the guitar, not just playing casually.
When to use
Use this phrase after a practice session, when someone asks what you did, or to explain why your fingers might be sore. It’s common in music lessons, jam sessions, or casual conversation about hobbies.
✦Grammar Breakdown
IchhabeGitarregeübt
Present Perfect (Perfekt)
The Perfekt is formed with the auxiliary verb 'haben' (or 'sein') plus the past participle. Here 'habe' + 'geübt' expresses a completed action in the past.
Verb 'üben' (to practice)
The past participle of 'üben' is 'geübt'. Note the umlaut (ü) and the silent 'e' at the end.
Instrument without article
When talking about playing or practicing an instrument, German often omits the article: 'Gitarre spielen', 'Gitarre üben'.
Word Order
In a main clause with Perfekt, the auxiliary verb occupies the second position, and the past participle goes to the end.
🗨In Conversation
Was hast du am Wochenende gemacht?
What did you do over the weekend?
Ich habe Gitarre geübt.
I practiced guitar.
✕Common Mistakes
Ich bin Gitarre geübt.
The auxiliary for 'üben' is 'haben', not 'sein'.
Ich habe die Gitarre geübt.
The article is usually omitted when talking about playing or practicing an instrument.
Ich habe Gitarre geübtet.
The correct past participle is 'geübt'; adding '-et' is a common over‑regularization error.
↔Alternatives
Ich habe Gitarre gespielt.
I played guitar.
Ich habe Gitarre geübt.
I practiced the guitar.
Ich habe heute Gitarre geübt.
I practiced guitar today.
Cultural Tip
In German, mentioning an instrument without an article (e.g., 'Gitarre spielen') is idiomatic when you talk about the activity itself. Adding a definite article ('die Gitarre') would shift the meaning to a specific, physical guitar, which is rarely needed in this context. Also, the perfect tense with 'haben' is the default for most verbs, including 'üben'.