German word

zeigen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtsaɪ̯gn̩/

Meaning

  • verbshow

Example

Zeig mir bitte das Foto.

Please show me the photo.

Illustration for zeigen (show)

More examples

Das Kind zeigt seinem Freund das neue Spielzeug.

The child shows his friend the new toy.

Core concept

A hand or display brings something hidden, distant, or abstract into another person's view.

Common phrases

  • auf etwas zeigen

    point to something

  • das Bild zeigen

    show the picture

  • jemandem etwas zeigen

    show someone something

Similar words

vorzeigen: Producing an ID or document so another person can check or verify it.
hinweisen: Calling attention to a relevant place, point, or source of information.
demonstrieren: Making a method or result clear through practical examples or explanation.
vorführen: Demonstrating how an operation or procedure works in front of others.

Definition in German

einer Person etwas sichtbar machen; einer Person etwas zeigen

Word origin

German zeigen continues Middle High German zeigen and Old High German zeigōn, from an inherited Germanic root also related to Zeichen.

Usage tips

  • With zeigen, the recipient is usually dative and the thing shown accusative: jemandem etwas zeigen.

Other meanings

  • indicateverb
  • presentverb

Opposites

Related words

  • vorzeigenpresentverb
  • der Zeigefingerindex fingernoun

Word lists with this word