German word

behaupten

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈhaʊ̯ptən/

Meaning

  • verbclaim

Example

Er behauptet, er war nicht dort.

He claims he wasn't there.

Illustration for behaupten (claim)

More examples

Viele Leute behaupten, das sei eine gute Lösung.

Many people claim that it is a good solution.

Core concept

A person puts a disputed statement forward like a firm post and keeps standing behind it when questioned.

Common phrases

  • behaupten, dass ...

    claim that ___

  • fälschlicherweise behaupten

    falsely claim

Similar words

sagen: Communicate information or an idea through speech or writing.
meinen: Express a personal view or opinion about something.
erklären: Give a detailed account of reasons or meaning so it is understood.
versichern: Strongly assure someone that something is true to put them at ease.

Definition in German

Eine Aussage fest als wahr hinstellen oder darauf bestehen, dass etwas so sei

Word origin

The verb developed from Middle High German behoubten, related to Haupt "head" and originally associated with taking something under one's control before it came to mean asserting a statement.

Usage tips

  • Unlike neutral sagen, behaupten can suggest that a statement is unverified or disputed, so it may carry a skeptical tone.

Other meanings

  • assertverb
  • insistverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word