01
vertraut
familiar
Well-known and familiar, so that you feel safe and comfortable with it.
example
Der Geruch von frisch gebackenem Kuchen ist mir sehr vertraut.
The smell of freshly baked cake is very familiar to me.
vertraut
familiar
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family: trust
The adjective 'vertraut' (familiar) is closely related to the noun 'das Vertrauen' (trust). A person or thing that is 'vertraut' to you is one that you know well and trust.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat nur wenige, aber sehr vertraute Freunde.
She has only a few, but very close friends.
Dative construction
If you want to express to whom something is familiar, that person is in the dative. The structure is: [thing in the nominative] + ist + [person in the dative] + vertraut.
EXAMPLE
Diese Melodie ist mir irgendwie vertraut.
This melody is somehow familiar to me.
Describing relationships
In this meaning, 'vertraut' (intimate/familiar) describes a close, personal relationship between people. It is often used to characterize an atmosphere or an interaction.
EXAMPLE
Die beiden Kollegen pflegen einen sehr vertrauten Umgang miteinander.
The two colleagues have a very familiar way of interacting with each other.
Fixed expression
The construction 'sich mit etwas vertraut machen' (to familiarize oneself with something) is a fixed expression. It always uses the reflexive pronoun in the accusative ('sich') and the preposition 'mit' followed by the dative.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss mich erst mit der neuen Software vertraut machen.
I first have to familiarize myself with the new software.
Compare with
vertraut vs neu
new
'neu' and 'vertraut' can be opposites when it comes to experience and confidence. In that case, 'neu' describes something that you do not know yet or that feels unfamiliar. 'vertraut' describes something that you know well and feel confident with. With people, 'vertraut' can also express a close relationship; with things, it can mean good knowledge. Learners may confuse the words because 'neu' can also simply mean 'recently bought'. In this contrast, however, the point is whether something is known and familiar or not.
vertraut
Nach ein paar Wochen ist mir die Arbeit mit dem Programm vertraut.
After a few weeks, I am familiar with working with the program.
neu
Herr Lange findet den neuen Weg durch den Park noch etwas verwirrend.
Mr. Lange still finds the new route through the park a bit confusing.
In real life
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