01
vereidigen
to swear in
To have a person take an official oath, usually when assuming public office.
example
Der neue Bundeskanzler wurde heute im Bundestag vereidigt.
The new chancellor was sworn in today in the Bundestag.
vereidigen
to swear in
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The verb is derived from the noun 'der Eid' (the oath; a solemn promise). The prefix 'ver-' is inseparable and here means putting someone into the state of having taken an oath.
EXAMPLE
Der Richter muss den Zeugen vor seiner Aussage vereidigen.
The judge must swear in the witness before their testimony.
Often in the passive
This verb is very often used in the passive, because the focus is usually on the person assuming office, not on the person administering the oath.
EXAMPLE
Die neue Ministerin wird morgen Vormittag vereidigt.
The new minister will be sworn in tomorrow morning.
Register and context
'Vereidigen' (to swear in) is a formal word from politics and law. It is used almost exclusively in the context of public offices and official roles.
EXAMPLE
Alle neuen Beamten müssen vor Dienstantritt vereidigt werden.
All new civil servants must be sworn in before starting their duties.
Sentence structure with prepositions
The office or the basis of the oath is often given with a preposition. Typical patterns are 'jemanden als [Position] vereidigen' (to swear someone in as [position]) or 'jemanden auf [Grundlage] vereidigen' (to swear someone in on [basis]).
EXAMPLE
Der Zeuge wurde auf die Bibel vereidigt.
The witness was sworn in on the Bible.
Compare with
vereidigen vs verpflichten
to oblige / commit
'verpflichten' and 'vereidigen' both have to do with an official obligation. 'verpflichten' is broader: someone has to do something because of a law, contract, or rule. 'vereidigen' is much more specific. It means having a person swear an official oath, often when taking public office. Learners may confuse the words because an oath also creates an obligation. But not every obligation is an oath. If it is about rules or contracts, 'verpflichten' fits; if someone officially swears an oath, use 'vereidigen'.
vereidigen
Am Montag wird die neue Ministerin im Parlament vereidigt.
On Monday, the new minister will be sworn in at parliament.
verpflichten
Das Gesetz verpflichtet die Firma, ihre Kunden klar zu informieren.
The law obliges the company to inform its customers clearly.
In real life
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