betiteln
to title
To give an official name or title to a work such as a book, film, song, or work of art.
EXAMPLE
Der Autor hat sein neuestes Buch „Die Stille des Flusses“ betitelt.
The author titled his latest book 'The Silence of the River.'
betiteln
to title / call
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Meanings
betiteln
to call
To address or label someone with a particular term, often a derogatory or mocking one.
EXAMPLE
Er wurde von seinen Kollegen abfällig als Besserwisser betitelt.
He was disparagingly called a know-it-all by his colleagues.
Usage tips
Word structure
The verb 'betiteln' (to title / to call) is made up of the noun 'der Titel' (title) and the prefix 'be-'. It means 'to give a title' and is an inseparable verb.
EXAMPLE
Wie wollen wir das neue Projekt betiteln?
What do we want to title the new project?
Context clue
The sentence structure reveals the meaning: the derogatory label for a person requires the preposition 'als' (as) (jemanden als Lügner betiteln = to call someone a liar). When a work is given a name, the title often follows directly or appears in quotation marks.
EXAMPLE
Sie betitelte ihn als Feigling.
She called him a coward.
Sentence structure with 'als'
In the meaning 'to call someone something (derogatory),' the preposition 'als' is required. The structure is always: 'jemanden als etwas betiteln' (to call someone something).
EXAMPLE
Nur weil er einen Fehler gemacht hat, sollte man ihn nicht gleich als Versager betiteln.
Just because he made a mistake, you shouldn't immediately call him a failure.
Compare with
betiteln vs nennen
to call / name
Nennen and betiteln can both characterize a person with a particular label. Nennen is the more general and usually more neutral word, while betiteln in this usage often carries a mocking or derogatory tone. Use betiteln when this negative or mocking effect is deliberately implied.
betiteln
Die Zeitung betitelte den Politiker spöttisch als Außenseiter.
The newspaper mockingly labeled the politician an outsider.
nennen
Die Zeitung nannte den Politiker einen Außenseiter.
The newspaper called the politician an outsider.
In real life
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