to favor / facilitate
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to facilitate
To promote or make easier a development or condition; to create positive conditions for something.
Das warme und feuchte Klima begünstigt das Wachstum exotischer Pflanzen.
The warm and humid climate facilitates the growth of exotic plants.
The verb is derived from the adjective 'günstig' (favorable). The prefix 'be-' turns it into a transitive verb that means to influence something or someone favorably or to create advantageous conditions.
Gute Kontakte können die Jobsuche begünstigen.
Good contacts can facilitate the job search.
'Begünstigen' (to favor / facilitate) is an inseparable verb because it begins with 'be-'. The prefix remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all sentence forms and tenses.
Die Jury hat anscheinend einen Kandidaten klar begünstigt.
The jury apparently clearly favored one candidate.
In the meaning 'fördern' (to promote), 'begünstigen' (to facilitate) is often used with impersonal subjects and abstract objects. Typical combinations are 'das Wetter begünstigt die Ernte' (the weather favors the harvest) or 'die Umstände begünstigen eine schnelle Lösung' (the circumstances facilitate a quick solution).
Die aktuelle Wirtschaftslage begünstigt Investitionen in Immobilien.
The current economic situation favors investments in real estate.
You can recognize this meaning by the fact that a person or institution (e.g., a referee, a teacher) gives another person or group an unfair advantage. The object of the verb here is always a person or group.
Der Lehrer wurde kritisiert, weil er seine Lieblingsschüler begünstigte.
The teacher was criticized because he favored his favorite students.
The meaning of helping an offender is a term from legal language. This meaning is hardly used in everyday speech.
Er wurde angeklagt, weil er den Dieb nach der Tat begünstigt hat.
He was charged because he aided the thief after the crime.
to support
'unterstützen' and 'begünstigen' can both express that something is promoted or given better chances. 'unterstützen' usually sounds more direct and often positive: a person helps someone or advocates for a cause. 'begünstigen' describes more often conditions or circumstances that make a development easier. It can also mean that someone is favored, sometimes unfairly. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with support or promotion. If concrete help is meant, 'unterstützen' fits better. If an advantage arises through circumstances or preferential treatment, 'begünstigen' is more precise.
Das warme Wetter begünstigt das schnelle Wachstum der Pflanzen.
The warm weather facilitates the plants' rapid growth.
Sie unterstützt ihren Kollegen morgen bei der Vorbereitung der Präsentation.
She is supporting her colleague tomorrow with the preparation for the presentation.