German word

These

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈteːzə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounclaim

Example

Ich habe eine klare These aufgestellt.

I put forward a clear claim.

Illustration for These (claim)

More examples

Seine These wurde im Seminar heftig diskutiert.

His claim was hotly discussed in the seminar.

Core concept

A firm position set at the center of a discussion, ready to be supported, tested, or rejected.

Common phrases

  • auf eine These eingehen

    respond to a claim

  • die These verteidigen

    defend a claim

  • eine These widerlegen

    refute a claim

Similar words

Meinung: A personal view or judgment based on individual preferences or reasoning.
Vermutung: A tentative guess made when the available evidence is uncertain.
Argument: A reason or piece of evidence offered to support a claim.
Behauptung: A definite assertion made with little supporting evidence.

Definition in German

Eine klar formulierte Aussage oder Hypothese, die als Ausgangspunkt für weitere Argumente dient.

Word origin

These entered German as an academic term from Latin thesis, ultimately from Greek thesis, and retains the idea of a position put forward.

Usage tips

  • Common combinations include eine These aufstellen, vertreten, belegen, and widerlegen, with the verbs showing how the claim is handled.

Other meanings

  • hypothesisnoun
  • propositionnoun

Opposites

  • Gegenthesecounterclaimnoun

Related words

  • Thesenstellerclaim proponentnoun

Word lists with this word