vorziehen
/ˈfoːʁˌt͡siːən/
To say 'prefer' in German, you can use vorziehen, bevorzugen or präferieren.
Meaning: to favor (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| vorziehen | /ˈfoːʁˌt͡siːən/ |
| bevorzugen | /ˌbəˈfoːɐ̯tsuːɡn/ |
| präferieren | /pʁɛ(ː)feˈʁiːʁən/ /pʁeː-/ |
What does it mean word for word?
The verb vorziehen literally means 'to pull forward', where vor means 'before' or 'forward' and ziehen means 'to pull'.
Which one should you use?
bevorzugen is the most common and neutral way to express a preference. In contrast, präferieren is a higher-register term often used in professional, technical or academic contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
vorziehen is a separable verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfoːʁˌtsiːən/
Did you know?
- The verb ziehen inside vorziehen is the same root used in the German word for 'train' (Zug), as both involve pulling.
- While vorziehen means 'to prefer', using it in a scheduling context can mean to move an appointment to an earlier date or time.
- The prefix be- in bevorzugen is a common German tool used to turn a noun into a verb that acts upon an object.
Examples in context
- Welche würdest du bevorzugen?Which one would you prefer?This sentence is useful for asking which option someone would prefer using bevorzugen.Tatoeba #11945446 by Naina, translation #2892847 by CK
- Welchen Nachtisch bevorzugen Sie?Which dessert do you prefer?This sentence shows how to ask someone's preference for a dessert using bevorzugen.Tatoeba #4639059 by Tamy, translation #8981809 by sundown
- Welche Zeitung würden Sie vorziehen?Which newspaper would you prefer?This sentence demonstrates asking for a preference regarding a newspaper using vorziehen.Tatoeba #915497 by Sudajaengi, translation #871743 by CM
- Ich bevorzuge Kaffee anstelle von Tee.I prefer coffee instead of tea.
- Er bevorzugt klassische Musik.He prefers classical music.
- Ich gebe dem Kuchen den Vorzug.I prefer the cake.
- Geben Sie dem Wein den Vorzug?Do you prefer the wine?
- Ich mag Pizza mehr als Pasta.I prefer pizza to pasta.
- Magst du lieber Hunde oder Katzen?Do you prefer dogs or cats?
- Ich habe lieber einen Filmabend als eine Party.I prefer a movie night to a party.
- Wir haben lieber den blauen Wagen.We prefer the blue car.
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Lukas are deciding which movie to watch.
- LauraWollen wir eine Komödie sehen?Do we want to watch a comedy?
- LukasIch würde einen Horrorfilm vorziehen.I would prefer a horror movie.
- LauraWarum ziehst du das vor?Why do you prefer that?
- LukasDie sind einfach spannender, Laura.They are simply more exciting, Laura.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prefer” translations and entries vorziehen, bevorzugen, präferieren, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
