provozieren
to provoke
To deliberately challenge, irritate, or anger someone in order to cause a reaction.
EXAMPLE
Er versucht immer, seine Schwester mit dummen Sprüchen zu provozieren.
He always tries to provoke his sister with stupid remarks.
provozieren
to provoke
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
provozieren
to provoke
To deliberately bring about, trigger, or cause something.
EXAMPLE
Die riskante Fahrweise des Autofahrers provozierte einen schweren Unfall.
The driver's risky driving provoked a serious accident.
provozieren
to provoke
In medicine, the deliberate triggering of a reaction or symptom for diagnostic purposes.
EXAMPLE
Beim Allergietest wird eine Hautreaktion durch den Kontakt mit dem Allergen provoziert.
In the allergy test, a skin reaction is provoked through contact with the allergen.
Usage tips
Sentence structure with accusative
The verb 'provozieren' (to provoke) is always used with a direct object in the accusative. So you always provoke 'jemanden' (someone) or 'etwas' (something).
EXAMPLE
Der Redner provozierte das Publikum mit seinen Thesen.
The speaker provoked the audience with his arguments.
Context clue
You can tell whether a person is being irritated or a thing is being triggered from the object. If a person is in the accusative, it usually means irritation or provocation. If an event is in the accusative, it means triggering or causing.
EXAMPLE
Er provozierte seinen Gegner während des Spiels.
He provoked his opponent during the game.
Usage pattern
To name the means of provocation, you use the preposition 'mit' (with). A common passive reaction to this is the phrase 'sich (nicht) provozieren lassen' (to allow oneself/not allow oneself to be provoked).
EXAMPLE
Lass dich nicht von seinen Kommentaren provozieren!
Don't let yourself be provoked by his comments!
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'auslösen' (to trigger), 'provozieren' (to provoke) is often combined with negative events or abstract concepts. Typical examples are 'einen Unfall provozieren' (to provoke/cause an accident), 'einen Streit provozieren' (to provoke an argument), or 'eine Debatte provozieren' (to provoke a debate).
EXAMPLE
Seine unvorsichtige Aktion provozierte einen gefährlichen Zwischenfall.
His careless action provoked a dangerous incident.
Medical terminology
In a medical context, 'provozieren' (to provoke) is technical language. It means deliberately triggering a bodily reaction for a test, for example in an allergy test.
EXAMPLE
Für den Test wurde eine leichte allergische Reaktion provoziert.
A mild allergic reaction was provoked for the test.
Compare with
provozieren vs einladen
to invite / load
Einladen and provozieren can both express that something encourages a negative reaction. Einladen figuratively highlights an easily available opportunity or an incentive. Provozieren presents the reaction more as a deliberately or directly triggered effect.
provozieren
Die bewusste Falschaussage provozierte sofort heftige Kritik.
The deliberate false statement immediately provoked fierce criticism.
einladen
Der lückenhafte Bericht lädt geradezu zu Kritik ein.
The incomplete report practically invites criticism.
In real life
Loading video examples...