01
besagt
said / aforementioned
Refers to a person or thing that has already been mentioned earlier in the conversation or text.
example
Der besagte Brief wurde nie abgeschickt.
The aforementioned letter was never sent.
besagt
said / aforementioned
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Meanings
Usage tips
Origin of the word
'Besagt' is the past participle of the verb 'besagen' (to state, to mean). It literally means “that which has already been said” and thus refers to something mentioned previously.
EXAMPLE
Der Experte bestätigte die Echtheit des besagten Dokuments.
The expert confirmed the authenticity of the aforementioned document.
Only before nouns
The word 'besagt' is almost always used as an adjective directly before a noun and must be declined. Predicative use, e.g. 'Der Brief ist besagt.' (The letter is aforementioned), is not common.
EXAMPLE
Die besagte Person war zum Zeitpunkt des Anrufs nicht im Haus.
The person in question was not in the house at the time of the call.
Written style
'Besagt' belongs more to written, formal, or official language. It is often found in reports, minutes, or legal texts in order to create clarity.
EXAMPLE
Am besagten Tag war der Angeklagte nachweislich in einer anderen Stadt.
On the day in question, the defendant was demonstrably in another city.
Compare with
besagt vs genannt
mentioned / called
'genannt' and 'besagt' can both refer to something that has already been mentioned before. 'genannt' is neutral and easy to understand in everyday language. It fits names, people, things, or terms. 'besagt' here means something like 'just mentioned', but it sounds much more formal and somewhat old-fashioned. You are more likely to find it in texts or in fixed expressions like 'besagte Person' (the person in question / the aforementioned person). Learners may confuse the words because both refer back to something. In normal conversation, 'genannt' is usually more natural. 'besagt' is more suitable when a text is meant to sound very precise or official.
besagt
Der besagte Kurs hat am Montag doch nicht stattgefunden.
The course in question did not take place on Monday after all.
genannt
Die genannte Gruppe trifft sich jeden Mittwoch im Gemeindehaus.
The mentioned group meets every Wednesday at the community center.
In real life
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