Polyglot Dictionary

zugeben

/ˈtsuːˌɡeːbn̩/

verb B1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

V Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Common Domain General Tone Neutral

Forms

present
gibt zu
past
gab zu
perfect
hat zugegeben

Meaning

  1. to admit, to confess

    Built from zu (shut, closed, to) + geben (to give).

    • Er musste zugeben, dass sie recht hatte.

      He had to admit that she was right.

    • Er gab zu, dass er den Fehler gemacht hatte. Das rechnete man ihm hoch an.

      He admitted that he had made the mistake. That was greatly appreciated.

V Category Action Concreteness Concrete Agency Voluntary Duration Durative Transitivity Transitive

Made of

  • zu shut, closed, to
  • geben to give

Similar words

gestehen

gestehen is slightly more formal and serious, like confessing a crime; zugeben is more everyday, like admitting a mistake.

Practice

1 What does zugeben mean?

2 Fill the gap: Er musste ___, dass sie recht hatte.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches zugeben?

See also

verbirregularseparablecompound

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