Vertrau mir
The English phrase "trust me" can be translated into German as Vertrau mir.
This phrase is used to ask someone to believe that what you are saying is true or that you are reliable.
Which one should you use?
While both are used to ask for belief, Glaub mir is often used when you want someone to believe a specific fact or statement, whereas Vertrau mir implies a deeper trust in your character or reliability.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form Vertrau mir uses the singular informal imperative, used when speaking to one friend or family member. If you are asking a group of people (whom you know informally) to trust you, use Vertraut mir.
Did you know?
- In some German dialects, the word mir can actually mean 'we' instead of 'me'. This stems from an ancient linguistic process where the word for 'us' merged with the verb, turning 'we ask' into a form that looks like 'ask me'.
- Adding the word doch to create Vertrau mir doch! does not change the basic meaning but signals that the speaker is feeling frustrated or urgent.
- The German word mir and the English word 'me' are cognates, meaning they share a common ancestor from the Proto-Indo-European root *(e)me-.
Examples in context
- Er sagte: "Vertrau mir."He said, "Trust me."This sentence is useful for seeing how to report someone saying Vertrau mir.Tatoeba #777847 by BraveSentry, translation #1466935 by human600
- Sie sagte: "Vertrau mir."She said: "Trust me".Tatoeba #777846 by BraveSentry, translation #1490282 by niceguydave
- Vertrau mir! Ich bin Arzt.Trust me. I'm a doctor.This sentence shows how to use Vertrau mir when asserting your reliability.Tatoeba #3658026 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3658020 by CM
- Vertrauen Sie mir, ich habe langjährige Erfahrung in diesem Bereich.Trust me, I have many years of experience in this field.
- Vertrau mir, ich weiß, was ich tue.Trust me, I know what I'm doing.
- Glaub mir, das wird gut enden.Trust me, it will end well.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian is trying to convince Laura to try a new restaurant.
- JulianVertrau mir, das Essen ist fantastisch.Trust me, the food is fantastic.
- LauraBist du sicher, Julian?Are you sure, Julian?
- JulianJa, ich schwöre es dir.Yes, I swear it to you.
- LauraOkay, dann probiere ich es aus.Okay, then I will try it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
