German word

verfassen

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈfasn̩/

Meaning

  • verbwrite

Example

Ich verfasse eine E-Mail.

I am writing an email.

Illustration for verfassen (write)

More examples

Bitte verfasse kurz eine Nachricht an das Team.

Please compose a short message to the team.

Core concept

Ideas are shaped into a complete text that another person can read as a finished work.

Common phrases

  • eine E-Mail verfassen

    compose an email

  • einen Brief verfassen

    compose a letter

  • eine Nachricht verfassen

    compose a message

Similar words

schreiben: Put ideas, feelings, or information into written form.
entwerfen: Sketch out the basic structure of a text or proposal.
formulieren: Put thoughts into precise, suitable words.

Definition in German

einen schriftlichen Text (z. B. E-Mail, Bericht, Artikel) sprachlich ausarbeiten und niederschreiben.

Word origin

The verb goes back to Germanic fassen 'to grasp' and its prefix ver-, with the combination acquiring the sense of composing or putting a text together.

Usage tips

  • The prefix ver- is inseparable, so the perfect participle is verfasst, not gefasst or vergefasst, and the auxiliary is haben.

Other meanings

  • draftverb

Related words

  • das Verfassenwritingnoun
  • Verfasserauthornoun
  • verfasstwrittenadjective

Word lists with this word