Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| prüfen | /ˈpʁyːfn̩/ /ˈpʁyːfən/ |
| abgleichen | [ˈapˌɡlaɪ̯çn̩] (narrow) |
| überprüfen | [yːbɐˈpʁyːfn̩] (narrow) |
| bestätigen | /bəˈʃtɛːtɪɡən/ (standard) /bəˈʃteːtɪɡən/ (colloquial) |
| vergleichen | /fɛʁˈɡlaɪ̯çən/ |
| nachlesen | /ˈnaxˌleːzən/ |
| nachprüfen | |
| revidieren | /ʁeviˈdiːʁən/ |
| nachsehen | /ˈnaːxˌzeːən/ |
| verifizieren | |
| nachmessen | /ˈnaːxmɛsn̩/ /-mɛsən/ |
| gegenprüfen | |
| nachfragen |
Which one should you use?
While prüfen is a general term for checking, überprüfen often implies a more thorough or formal inspection or verification. If you are checking one set of data against another to ensure they match, use abgleichen. For the specific act of inquiring or asking for clarification to verify a fact, use nachfragen. Other specialized forms include bestätigen, vergleichen, nachlesen, nachprüfen, revidieren, nachsehen, verifizieren, nachmessen, gegenprüfen and nachfragen.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Verifizieren is a high-register, technical term used in scientific or formal contexts, whereas prüfen is the standard everyday word.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpʁyːfn̩/
What mistakes should you avoid?
For formal or correct German, you must use one of the specific German verbs like prüfen or kontrollieren.
Did you know?
- In German, kontrollieren is a common way to say 'check', but it can sound more authoritarian than in English. It often implies the exercise of power or surveillance over someone else.
- While prüfen means 'to check', it is also the standard word for 'to test' or 'to examine' in a school setting. A 'test' or 'exam' is called eine Prüfung.
- While 'check' in English can be a noun like a 'restaurant check', Germans use completely different words like Rechnung for a bill.
Examples in context
- Tom wird es prüfen.Tom will check it out.This sentence shows how to use prüfen to express checking something out.Tatoeba #7764255 by Neisklar, translation #6440290 by CK
- Wir werden es überprüfen.We'll check.This sentence demonstrates the use of überprüfen for checking.Tatoeba #2204341 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2203619 by CK
- Ich werde das überprüfen.I'll check that.This sentence shows the use of überprüfen in a similar context.Tatoeba #3481734 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2247699 by CK
- Die Rechnung, bitte.The bill, please.
- Können wir zahlen?Can we pay?
- Entschuldigen Sie, wir möchten gerne zahlen.Excuse me, we would like to pay.
- Kannst du mal bitte die Rechnung bringen?Can you please bring the check?
- 89 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are reviewing a document together.
- JulianIch muss die Daten erst noch prüfen.I still need to check the data.
- HannahKannst du das bitte schnell machen?Can you please do that quickly?
- JulianJa, ich prüfe es sofort.Yes, I will check it immediately.
- HannahDanke, Julian, das wäre super.Thanks, Julian, that would be great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “check” translations and entries prüfen, abgleichen, überprüfen, bestätigen, vergleichen, nachlesen, nachprüfen, revidieren, nachsehen, verifizieren, nachmessen, nachfragen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
