English–German

“sniff out” in German

German

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈvɪtɐn/

Example

Sie witterte einen Betrug.

She sniffed out a fraud.

Illustration for wittern (sniff out)

How to say “sniff out” in German

“Sniff out” in German is wittern.

A nose catches a faint trace and senses something hidden behind it.

Full entry for wittern: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with wittern

Er wittert eine Chance, den Skandal aufzudecken.

He sniffs out an opportunity to expose the scandal.

Tips for using wittern

  • Wittern often takes an accusative object such as einen Betrug or Gefahr, while the English verb sniff out can sound more conclusive.

“sniff out” in other languages