German word

besagen

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈzaːgn̩/

Meaning

  • verbstate

Example

Das Gesetz besagt, dass Rauchen verboten ist.

The law states that smoking is prohibited.

Illustration for besagen (state)

More examples

Die Gebrauchsanweisung besagt, wie das Gerät zu bedienen ist.

The instruction manual states how to operate the device.

Core concept

A written statement puts its content clearly on the record.

Common phrases

  • das Protokoll besagt

    the minutes state

  • die Richtlinie besagt

    the guideline states

  • der Bericht besagt

    the report states

Similar words

sagen: Put a thought or fact into words, orally or in writing.
lauten: Be expressed in a particular form of words.
feststellen: Determine and clearly show that a fact or situation exists.
erklären: Describe the meaning or reasons behind something so they are understood.

Definition in German

etwas so ausdrücken, dass ein Sachverhalt klar festgelegt oder erklärt wird; häufig mit einem dass-Satz verwendet.

Word origin

Besagen combines the prefix be- with sagen, which derives from Old High German sagān, and forms a verb for stating a subject's content.

Usage tips

  • Besagen commonly introduces a dass-clause, as in Das Gesetz besagt, dass ..., rather than describing a person's act of speaking.

Other meanings

  • indicateverb
  • sayverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Besagtethe foregoingnoun
  • besagtstatedadjective

Word lists with this word