bedeuten
to mean
To have a specific meaning, definition, or translation.
EXAMPLE
Was bedeutet dieses Fremdwort?
What does this foreign word mean?
bedeuten
to mean
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Meanings
bedeuten
to mean
To be of great importance or emotional value to a person.
EXAMPLE
Meine Freunde bedeuten mir sehr viel.
My friends mean a lot to me.
bedeuten
to mean
To have as a consequence or result.
EXAMPLE
Eine höhere Nachfrage bedeutet oft auch höhere Preise.
Higher demand often also means higher prices.
bedeuten
to signal
To signal something to someone or make something understood through a sign or gesture.
EXAMPLE
Er bedeutete mir mit einem Kopfnicken, dass ich schweigen sollte.
He signaled to me with a nod that I should be quiet.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The verb 'bedeuten' (to mean) is inseparable. The prefix 'be-' stays firmly attached to the verb stem 'deuten' in all tenses and sentence constructions.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe nicht verstanden, was er bedeutete.
I didn't understand what he meant.
Dative construction
When expressing that someone or something is important to a person, that person is always in the dative. Typical adverbs in this context are 'viel' (a lot), 'nichts' (nothing), or 'alles' (everything).
EXAMPLE
Seine Familie bedeutet ihm alles.
His family means everything to him.
Sentence structure for consequences
To express a result or consequence, 'bedeuten' (to mean) is often followed by a subordinate clause with 'dass' (that) or simply by a noun in the accusative. The subject is usually a situation or a fact.
EXAMPLE
Der Streik bedeutet, dass heute keine Züge fahren.
The strike means that no trains are running today.
Context clue
This meaning is almost always used in a context that describes a nonverbal gesture. It is typical of written language, especially in narratives.
EXAMPLE
Mit einer Handbewegung bedeutete sie uns, leise zu sein.
With a hand gesture, she signaled to us to be quiet.
Compare with
bedeuten vs heißen
to be called / to mean
Heißen and bedeuten can both be used to ask about the meaning of an expression. Heißen is especially suitable when asking for a linguistic equivalent, while bedeuten focuses more strongly on the meaning being expressed. Heißen is therefore often more appropriate for a translation, while bedeuten is often more appropriate for explaining the content.
bedeuten
Was bedeutet dieses spanische Wort in dem Satz?
What does this Spanish word mean in the sentence?
heißen
Wie heißt dieses spanische Wort auf Deutsch?
What is this Spanish word in German?
In real life
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