zutrauen

German

Etymology

16th century, from zu- (to, towards) +‎ trauen (trust).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈt͡suːˌtʁaʊ̯ən]
  • Audio (Germany (Berlin)):(file)
  • Hyphenation: zu‧trau‧en

Verb

zutrauen (weak, third-person singular present traut zu, past tense traute zu, past participle zugetraut, auxiliary haben)

  1. to think [with dative ‘someone’] capable [with accusative ‘of something’ or zu (+ infinitive) or dass ‘of doing something’]
    Ich traue mir den Sieg zu.I think myself capable of victory.
    Ich traue ihm zu, dass er gewinnt.I think him capable of winning.
  2. (with something negative) not to put it past [with dative ‘someone’] to do [with accusative or zu (+ infinitive) or dass ‘something’]
    Ich traue mir einen Mord zu.I wouldn’t put it past myself [to commit] murder.
    Ich traue ihm zu, einen Mord zu begehen.I wouldn’t put it past him to commit murder.
  3. (with some indefinite pronoun) to have (a specified degree of) confidence [with dative ‘in someone’s skills’]
    Ich traue ihm wenig zu.I don’t think he’s much good. (literally, “I think him capable of little.”)
    Er traut sich zu viel zu.He’s overconfident. (literally, “He thinks himself capable of too much.”)
  4. (archaic) synonym of vertrauen: to trust [with dative ‘someone’]
    Ich traue ihm zu.I trust him.

Conjugation

Derived terms

Further reading

  • zutrauen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • zutrauen” in Duden online