German word

rühmen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʁyːmən/

Meaning

  • verbpraise

Example

Er rühmt sie für ihre Arbeit.

He praises her for her work.

Illustration for rühmen (praise)

More examples

Die Presse rühmt den jungen Wissenschaftler für seine Entdeckung.

The press praises the young scientist for his discovery.

Core concept

A public voice lifts a person's good deed into the light, while a self-directed spotlight turns the same act into personal boasting.

Common phrases

  • jemanden für seine Leistung rühmen

    praise someone for their achievement

  • jemanden öffentlich rühmen

    praise someone publicly

Similar words

loben: Gentle, everyday praise for someone's actions or qualities.
preisen: Enthusiastic admiration for a person's or thing's excellence.
prahlen: Exaggerated talk boasting about personal success or possessions.
würdigen: Formal acknowledgment of a person's worth or an achievement's merit.

Definition in German

öffentlich oder ausdrücklich jemandes gute Eigenschaften oder Taten nennen und dadurch Anerkennung zeigen; reflexiv: sich rühmen = eigene Leistung betonen

Word origin

Rühmen developed from Middle High German rüemen and Old High German hruom, related to Ruhm and meaning fame or glory.

Usage tips

  • Rühmen often sounds more elevated or public than loben, while sich rühmen commonly suggests boasting rather than modest self-praise.

Other meanings

  • boastverb

Opposites

Related words

  • der Ruhmfamenoun
  • rühmlichpraiseworthyadjective

Word lists with this word