German word

scheinen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃaɪ̯nən/

Meaning

  • verbseem

Example

Er scheint freundlich.

He seems friendly.

Illustration for scheinen (seem)

More examples

Es scheint, dass sie Recht hat.

It seems that she is right.

Core concept

Light or outward appearance gives an impression that something is so.

Common phrases

  • Es scheint, dass ...

    it seems that ___

  • scheint mir

    seems to me

  • Er scheint ... zu sein

    he seems to be ___

Similar words

aussehen: Someone or something looks a particular way from visible features.
wirken: Someone or something comes across as having a particular quality.
klingen: The wording or sound gives a particular impression.

Definition in German

So wirken, dass man annimmt, etwas sei so; die Aussage bleibt eine Vermutung.

Word origin

German scheinen continues Old High German scinan, a Germanic verb meaning 'shine', and its sense 'seem' developed from the appearance produced by light.

Usage tips

  • Scheinen commonly combines with an adjective or with zu plus an infinitive, as in Er scheint freundlich and Er scheint zu schlafen.

Other meanings

  • appearverb
  • shineverb

Related words

Word lists with this word