behaupten
to claim
To state something as true or accurate, often without providing proof for it.
EXAMPLE
Er behauptet, die Brieftasche auf der Straße gefunden zu haben.
He claims to have found the wallet on the street.
behaupten
to claim / assert
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Meanings
sich behaupten
to hold one's own
To successfully defend one's own position or status against obstacles or competition and prevail.
EXAMPLE
Die kleine Firma konnte sich erfolgreich am Markt behaupten.
The small company was able to successfully hold its own in the market.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Behaupten' (to claim/assert) is an inseparable verb because it begins with 'be-'. The prefix remains firmly attached to the verb in all sentence forms and tenses.
EXAMPLE
Sie behauptete, von nichts gewusst zu haben.
She claimed to have known nothing about it.
Sentence structure
When making a claim, a subordinate clause with 'dass' (that) or an infinitive construction with 'zu' (to) often follows. The structure is: jemand behauptet, dass ... / jemand behauptet, ... zu tun (someone claims that ... / someone claims to do something).
EXAMPLE
Der Zeuge behauptet, dass er den Täter gesehen hat.
The witness claims that he saw the perpetrator.
Context clue
The meaning changes completely when the reflexive pronoun 'sich' is present. Without 'sich', it means 'etwas aussagen' (to state something) (m01); with 'sich', it means 'sich durchsetzen' (to assert oneself / prevail) (m02).
EXAMPLE
Er behauptet, der Beste zu sein.
He claims to be the best.
Subtle meaning
The word 'behaupten' (to claim) often implies that the speaker distrusts the statement or that there is no evidence for the statement. It expresses a certain distance or skepticism.
EXAMPLE
Er behauptet, ein berühmter Schauspieler zu sein, aber niemand kennt ihn.
He claims to be a famous actor, but no one knows him.
Typical collocations
The reflexive form 'sich behaupten' (to hold one's own) is often used in the context of competition and rivalry. Typical prepositions are 'gegen' (against) for competitors or 'am' (in/on) for the market.
EXAMPLE
Das neue Produkt konnte sich schnell am Markt behaupten.
The new product was quickly able to hold its own in the market.
Compare with
behaupten vs feststellen
to determine / notice / secure
Both words can introduce a statement about a situation. Anyone who etwas behauptet presents it as true, without this being thereby checked or proven; anyone who etwas feststellt has noticed it or recognized it through an examination. Use „feststellen“ when the statement is based on an observation or finding.
behaupten
Der Nachbar behauptete, dass der Lärm aus unserer Wohnung kam.
The neighbor claimed that the noise was coming from our apartment.
feststellen
Nach der Prüfung stellte die Hausverwaltung fest, dass der Lärm aus unserer Wohnung kam.
After the inspection, the property management determined that the noise was coming from our apartment.
In real life
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