German word

zutrauen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtsuːˌtʁaʊ̯ən/

Meaning

  • verbthink ___ is capable

Example

Ich traue dir das zu.

I believe you can do it.

Illustration for zutrauen (think ___ is capable)

More examples

Ich traue mir das zu, ein Solo zu singen.

I think I can sing a solo.

Core concept

A difficult task placed in someone's hands because their ability is trusted.

Common phrases

  • jemandem etwas zutrauen

    think ___ can do ___

  • sich das zutrauen

    think ___ can do it

Similar words

vertrauen: Trusting someone and depending on their support or judgment.
einschätzen: Evaluating someone's abilities or qualities before forming an opinion.
anvertrauen: Giving someone responsibility for something important or confidential.
vermuten: Supposing that something is true despite limited evidence.

Definition in German

jemandem etwas zutrauen bedeutet, zu glauben, dass eine Person eine bestimmte Sache oder Handlung bewältigen kann.

Word origin

Zutrauen combines the separable prefix zu- with trauen, a Germanic verb related to trust, and means trusting someone with a task or ability.

Usage tips

  • The person trusted takes the dative, as in dir, while the task is an accusative object: Ich traue dir das zu.

Other meanings

  • trust ___ to do ___verb

Opposites

  • misstrauendistrustverb

Related words

  • das Zutrauenconfidencenoun
  • zutraulichaffectionateadjective

Word lists with this word