01
verneinen
to deny
To answer a question with “no” or reject a statement as untrue.
example
Auf die Frage, ob er das Geld genommen habe, verneinte er entschieden.
When asked whether he had taken the money, he firmly denied it.
verneinen
to deny
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The word is structured very logically: it consists of the prefix “ver-” and the word “nein” (no). “Verneinen” (to deny) therefore literally means to mark something with “no” or to reject it.
EXAMPLE
Er verneinte den Vorwurf, unehrlich gewesen zu sein.
He denied the accusation of having been dishonest.
Inseparable verb
The prefix “ver-” is inseparable. It remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all tenses and sentence constructions.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat meine Frage einfach verneint und das Thema gewechselt.
She simply denied my question and changed the subject.
Sentence structure and usage patterns
“Verneinen” (to deny) can either take a noun in the accusative as a direct object or be used with a “dass” clause to reject an entire statement.
EXAMPLE
Der Angeklagte verneinte die Tat.
The defendant denied the act.
Register and style
“Verneinen” (to deny) belongs more to written language or a formal style. In normal conversation, most people would simply say “nein sagen” (to say no) or “etwas abstreiten” (to deny something).
EXAMPLE
Auf die offizielle Anfrage, ob die Steuern erhöht werden, verneinte der Minister.
In response to the official inquiry about whether taxes would be raised, the minister said no.
Compare with
verneinen vs bestätigen
to confirm
'bestätigen' and 'verneinen' can both be reactions to a question or statement, but they mean the opposite. If someone 'bestätigt' something, they are saying: yes, that is correct or that applies. If someone 'verneint' something, they are saying: no, that is not true or that is not the case. Learners may confuse the words because both often appear in formal conversations, exams, or reports. What matters is the direction of the answer: 'bestätigen' agrees, while 'verneinen' rejects.
verneinen
Der Zeuge verneint, dass er den Unfall gesehen hat.
The witness denies that he saw the accident.
bestätigen
Kannst du bitte bestätigen, dass du die Einladung erhalten hast?
Can you please confirm that you received the invitation?
In real life
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