nachweisen
to prove
To establish the existence or truth of something through evidence or facts.
EXAMPLE
Der Anwalt konnte die Unschuld seines Mandanten zweifelsfrei nachweisen.
The lawyer was able to prove his client's innocence beyond doubt.
nachweisen
to prove / detect
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
nachweisen
to detect
In a scientific or medical context, to determine the presence of a substance, organism, or radiation.
EXAMPLE
Im Blut des Patienten wurde ein seltener Virus nachgewiesen.
A rare virus was detected in the patient's blood.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Nachweisen' (to prove/detect) is a separable verb. The prefix 'nach-' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei wies ihm die Tat nach.
The police proved that he committed the crime.
Word structure
The verb consists of the prefix 'nach-' and the verb 'weisen' (to show/point). The meaning 'beweisen' (to prove) comes from the idea of pointing to a fact or piece of evidence afterward.
EXAMPLE
Der Forscher konnte seine Theorie mit Daten nachweisen.
The researcher was able to prove his theory with data.
Dative construction
When you prove something against or to a person with 'nachweisen' (to prove), that person is in the dative. The thing being proven is in the accusative. The pattern is: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) nachweisen.
EXAMPLE
Man konnte dem Verdächtigen den Diebstahl nicht nachweisen.
They could not prove that the suspect committed the theft.
Context clue
This meaning is typical in scientific, medical, or chemical contexts. You can recognize it from objects such as 'eine Substanz' (a substance), 'ein Virus' (a virus), 'Spuren' (traces), or 'ein Giftstoff' (a toxin).
EXAMPLE
Im Trinkwasser wurden Spuren von Bakterien nachgewiesen.
Traces of bacteria were detected in the drinking water.
Compare with
nachweisen vs beweisen
to prove
Beweisen and nachweisen can both show the truth of a statement with facts. Nachweisen particularly emphasizes verifiable, documentable proof, while beweisen focuses more strongly on establishing the correctness itself. Nachweisen is often appropriate for measurements, documents, or an ascertainable fact; beweisen is more suitable for a convincing argument.
nachweisen
Die Messungen weisen nach, dass der Plan unter diesen Bedingungen funktioniert.
The measurements show that the plan works under these conditions.
beweisen
Die Argumente beweisen, dass der Plan unter diesen Bedingungen funktioniert.
The arguments prove that the plan works under these conditions.
In real life
Loading video examples...