verleugnen
to deny
To deny the existence or truth of a fact, even though one knows better.
EXAMPLE
Man kann die offensichtlichen Probleme in der Gesellschaft nicht länger verleugnen.
We can no longer deny the obvious problems in society.
verleugnen
to deny
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
verleugnen
to disown
To claim not to know someone or not to have any relationship with them, often out of fear, shame, or betrayal.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine alten Freunde verleugnet, nachdem er berühmt wurde.
He disowned his old friends after he became famous.
sich selbst verleugnen
to deny oneself
To suppress one's own wishes, needs, or personality, often in order to please others or achieve a certain goal.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat sich jahrelang selbst verleugnet, um die Erwartungen ihrer Familie zu erfüllen.
She denied herself for years in order to meet her family's expectations.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verleugnen' (to deny) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' always remains attached to the stem 'leugnen' (to deny). The verb is always used with an accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine Beteiligung an dem Projekt komplett verleugnet.
He completely denied his involvement in the project.
Context clue
The object of the verb shows the exact meaning. If the object is an abstract thing (e.g., 'die Wahrheit' (the truth), 'seine Herkunft' (his origins)), it means 'abstreiten' (to deny). If the object is a person (e.g., 'seine Freunde' (his friends)), it means to pretend not to know them.
EXAMPLE
Er versuchte, seine ärmliche Herkunft zu verleugnen.
He tried to deny his poor background.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'abstreiten' (to deny), 'verleugnen' (to deny) is often combined with things that are part of one's own identity or past. Typical phrases are: 'seine Herkunft verleugnen' (to deny one's origins), 'seine Wurzeln verleugnen' (to deny one's roots), 'die eigene Vergangenheit verleugnen' (to deny one's own past).
EXAMPLE
Auch nach vielen Jahren in der Stadt konnte er seine ländlichen Wurzeln nicht verleugnen.
Even after many years in the city, he could not deny his rural roots.
Fixed expression
The reflexive form 'sich selbst verleugnen' (to deny oneself) is a fixed expression. It means to suppress one's true feelings, wishes, or needs in order to adapt or please others.
EXAMPLE
Um den Job zu bekommen, musste er sich und seine Überzeugungen verleugnen.
To get the job, he had to deny himself and his beliefs.
Compare with
verleugnen vs verdrängen
to repress / displace
Verdrängen here refers to an unpleasant thought that is unconsciously pushed out of awareness. Verleugnen, by contrast, means denying the truth of a known fact. So you verdrängen the thought of it, but verleugnen the fact itself.
verleugnen
Obwohl die Diagnose feststeht, verleugnet Paul seine Krankheit und behauptet, gesund zu sein.
Although the diagnosis is certain, Paul denies his illness and claims to be healthy.
verdrängen
Obwohl die Diagnose feststeht, verdrängt Paul den Gedanken an seine Krankheit.
Although the diagnosis is certain, Paul represses the thought of his illness.
In real life
Loading video examples...