German word

zieren

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtsiːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbdecorate

Example

Sie ziert den Tisch mit frischen Blumen.

She decorates the table with fresh flowers.

Illustration for zieren (decorate)

More examples

Ein goldenes Muster ziert den Rahmen.

A golden pattern decorates the frame.

Core concept

A person carefully adding ornament, either to a table or to their own outward behavior.

Common phrases

  • den Tisch zieren

    decorate the table

  • das Kleid zieren

    decorate the dress

  • mit Blumen zieren

    decorate with flowers

Similar words

verstellen: To conceal genuine feelings or personality behind a deliberately assumed manner or voice.
zögern: To delay speaking or acting because of hesitation.
posieren: To display a posed stance or expression to attract attention.
aufspielen: To behave boastfully or flamboyantly to seem more important.

Definition in German

Sich zieren = aus Eitelkeit oder Höflichkeit zögern oder affektiert auftreten; transitiv: etwas schmücken

Word origin

Zieren comes from Middle High German zieren and Old High German ziarōn, related to German Zier, meaning ornament; the reflexive sense extends adornment to affected behavior.

Usage tips

  • With sich, zieren often suggests coy or affected reluctance rather than simple hesitation, while transitive zieren means to adorn an object.

Other meanings

  • be coyverb
  • hesitateverb

Opposites

  • entstellendisfigureverb

Related words

  • Zierdedecorationnoun
  • zierlichdelicateadjective
  • Zierereiact of adorningnoun

Word lists with this word