to perform / pretend / play
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to perform
To perform a piece of music or an acting scene in front of someone, often to prove one's ability for a role or position (audition).
Die junge Pianistin musste bei dem berühmten Professor vorspielen, um in seine Klasse aufgenommen zu werden.
The young pianist had to perform for the famous professor in order to be accepted into his class.
to pretend
To fake feelings, intentions, or a state that does not correspond to the truth in order to deceive someone.
Sie hat ihm monatelang die große Liebe nur vorgespielt, um an sein Geld zu kommen.
For months, she had only pretended to love him deeply in order to get his money.
to play
To play an audio or video recording for someone so that this person can hear or see it.
Kannst du mir die Sprachnachricht bitte noch einmal vorspielen? Ich habe sie nicht verstanden.
Can you please play the voice message for me again? I didn't understand it.
'Vorspielen' is a separable verb with the prefix 'vor-'. In a main clause, the prefix comes at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Er spielte seiner Familie das neue Lied vor.
He played the new song for his family.
You can recognize the meaning of 'vorspielen' from the object: A piece of music or a role points to a performance (audition). A feeling (e.g., Liebe, love) points to deception. A recording (e.g., Sprachnachricht, voice message) points to playing something back.
Der Pianist spielte eine Sonate von Mozart vor. (Aufführung)
The pianist performed a sonata by Mozart. (performance)
When it is about an audition, the preposition 'bei' + dative is often used for the jury or person one performs for. The desired position is expressed with 'für' + accusative.
Sie musste bei einer internationalen Jury vorspielen.
She had to perform for an international jury.
In the meaning 'vortäuschen' (to fake/pretend), the verb follows a fixed pattern: The person who is deceived is in the dative, and what is being pretended is in the accusative.
Er spielte seiner Chefin Zufriedenheit vor, obwohl er unglücklich war.
He pretended to his boss that he was satisfied, even though he was unhappy.
When playing a recording, a dative-accusative structure is also often used: The person for whom something is played is in the dative, and the recording itself is in the accusative.
Spiel mir die Nachricht bitte noch einmal vor.
Please play the message for me again.
to play / happen
Both verbs can mean playing an audio or video recording. Abspielen describes this process neutrally, while vorspielen additionally emphasizes that a particular person is meant to hear or see the recording. Use abspielen for the process in general and vorspielen when an explicit or implied recipient is involved.
Mara spielte ihrem Bruder die neue Aufnahme vor.
Mara played the new recording for her brother.
Mara spielte die neue Aufnahme im Wohnzimmer ab.
Mara played the new recording in the living room.
