German Grammar A–Z
Look up German grammar topics A–Z, organized by category and level — with clear explanations and examples.
Meanings of the Verb weisen with Different Prefixes
As you know, German verbs are often combined with prefixes (Präfix). Each combination creates a new meaning of the word, and understanding the meaning and usage poses a challenge for German learners. This is a series of articles on how to distinguish the meanings of verbs with the same stem but different prefixes. In this article, the meanings of the verb weisen when combined with prefixes (Präfix) will be explained.
Let's get started!
The verb weisen has the basic meaning of to point/to guide, to expel, or to lose.
Example: - Der Zeiger weist auf 5. (The pointer points to 5)
- Ich weise einem Schüler die Anfangsgründe im Rechnen. (I show a student the basics of arithmetic)
- Meine Mutter weist mir aus dem Haus. (My mother throws me out of the house)
In addition, when combined with other prefixes, the verb weisen also takes on a variety of shades of meaning:
|
prefix + weisen |
Meaning |
Example |
|
abweisen |
to refuse/deny, to reject a complaint |
Ich weise Hauskäufer an der Haustüre ab. (I turn away house buyers at the front door) Die Klage wurde abgewiesen. (The complaint was rejected) |
|
einweisen |
to introduce, to brief to admit someone |
Meine Kollegin hat mich in meinen neuen Job eingewiesen. (My colleague introduced me to my new job) Man hat sie in die Psychiatrie eingewiesen. (She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital) |
|
aufweisen |
to show, to reveal, to demonstrate |
Der Hut weist keine Gebrauchtsspuren auf. (The hat shows no signs of use) |
|
verweisen |
to expel to be referred to to lead to |
Die Schülerin wurde von der Schule verwiesen. (The student was expelled from school) Das Mädchen wird an einen Spezialisten verwiesen. (The girl is referred to a specialist (for examination and treatment) Die Links verweisen auf die Seiten Dritter. (The links lead to third-party pages) |
|
überweisen |
to transfer money to refer |
Ich überweise Geld an Peter. (I transfer money to Peter) Der Arzt überweist sie zum Spezialisten. (The doctor refers her to a specialist) |
|
zuweisen |
to distribute, to allocate |
Mein Chef weist mir zu viele Aufgaben zu. (My boss often assigns me too many tasks) |
|
wegweisen |
to turn away |
Der Türsteher wies ihn weg. (The doorman turned him away) |
