to demonstrate / show / humiliate
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to demonstrate
To present or demonstrate something, for example a product or a skill, in front of an audience.
Der Verkäufer wird uns die Funktionen der neuen Software vorführen.
The salesperson will demonstrate the functions of the new software to us.
to show
To publicly show a film, a play, or a similar performance.
Das kleine Kino führt hauptsächlich alte Schwarz-Weiß-Filme vor.
The small cinema mainly shows old black-and-white films.
to humiliate someone
To deliberately put someone in an embarrassing or unpleasant situation and thereby expose them in front of others.
Er hat mich vor allen Kollegen vorgeführt, indem er meine Fehler laut vorlas.
He humiliated me in front of all my colleagues by reading my mistakes aloud.
to bring someone before
In a legal or police context, to bring a person before an official authority, such as a judge or prosecutor.
Der Verdächtige wurde am nächsten Morgen dem Haftrichter vorgeführt.
The suspect was brought before the remand judge the next morning.
'Vorführen' (to demonstrate/show/humiliate) is a separable verb. The prefix 'vor-' comes at the end in a main clause, the verb stays together in subordinate clauses, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' stands between the prefix and the verb.
Ein Experte führt uns die neue Technik vor.
An expert demonstrates the new technology to us.
The verb consists of the prefix 'vor-' (in front of) and the verb 'führen' (to lead). The literal meaning 'to lead in front of someone' helps you understand all the meanings: showing something in front of an audience, bringing someone before an authority, or exposing someone in front of others.
Der Zauberer führte dem Publikum einen Trick vor.
The magician demonstrated a trick to the audience.
When you demonstrate something to someone, the person watching is in the dative. The thing being demonstrated is in the accusative.
Kannst du mir bitte vorführen, wie die Kaffeemaschine funktioniert?
Can you please demonstrate to me how the coffee machine works?
You can recognize the negative meaning 'to expose someone' by the fact that a person is the direct object. The context is often made clear by expressions like 'vor allen' (in front of everyone) or 'vor der ganzen Gruppe' (in front of the whole group).
Mit seiner unbedachten Frage hat er sich selbst vorgeführt.
With his careless question, he humiliated himself.
The meaning 'to bring someone before an authority' is used almost exclusively in official police and legal language. Typical objects are 'der Verdächtige' (the suspect) or 'der Angeklagte' (the accused/defendant).
Der Festgenommene wird morgen dem Richter vorgeführt.
The arrested person will be brought before the judge tomorrow.
to present
Both words can describe showing a product to a group. Vorführen, however, emphasizes that the product or one of its functions is demonstrated in practice; präsentieren can be limited to introducing it in general. Use „vorführen“ when the audience is meant to see how something works.
Die Verkäuferin führte der Gruppe das neue Gerät vor und zeigte seine wichtigsten Funktionen.
The saleswoman demonstrated the new device to the group and showed its key functions.
Die Verkäuferin präsentierte der Gruppe das neue Gerät und erklärte seine wichtigsten Eigenschaften.
The saleswoman presented the new device to the group and explained its key features.
