German Conversation · Level 96
60 words
German word
vorwerfen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈfoːɐ̯ˌvɛɐ̯fn̩/
Meaning
- verbblame
Example
Die Nachbarn werfen ihm jeden Abend Lärm vor.
The neighbors blame him for the noise every evening.
More examples
Sie hat sich vorgeworfen, nicht früher reagiert zu haben.
She blamed herself for not reacting sooner.
Core concept
A person puts a fault in front of someone and holds that person answerable for it.
Common phrases
jemandem etwas vorwerfen
blame ___ for ___
sich etwas vorwerfen
blame oneself for ___
jemandem einen Fehler vorwerfen
blame ___ for a mistake
Similar words
beschuldigen: Charge someone with wrongdoing and assign responsibility for it.
kritisieren: Draw attention to weaknesses in behavior or ideas to prompt improvement.
anmerken: Mention an observation briefly and without strong emphasis.
vorhalten: Hold a past deed or failure against someone by bringing it up repeatedly.
Definition in German
einer Person eine Tat oder ein Fehlverhalten zur Last legen und tadeln
Word origin
Vorwerfen is a separable compound of vor ('in front of') and the inherited Germanic verb werfen ('throw'), with a figurative sense of throwing a fault at someone.
Usage tips
- Vorwerfen normally takes the person in the dative and the fault in the accusative, as in jemandem etwas vorwerfen.