01
widersprechen
to contradict
To express a different opinion to a person and not agree with them. The verb is used with the dative.
example
Ich muss Ihnen da leider entschieden widersprechen.
I'm afraid I must strongly contradict you there.
widersprechen
to contradict
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 04
Usage tips
Word structure
The verb is made up of 'wider' (against) and 'sprechen' (to speak). Its literal meaning is therefore 'to speak against.' It is an inseparable verb; the prefix is never separated from the stem.
EXAMPLE
Er hat nie widersprochen, wenn seine Eltern etwas entschieden haben.
He never contradicted his parents when they made a decision.
Always with dative
A very important point: 'widersprechen' (to contradict) always requires the dative. Whether you contradict a person, a statement, or an official notice, the object is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Die neuen Fakten widersprechen der alten Theorie.
The new facts contradict the old theory.
Typical adverbs
When contradicting a person, this is often intensified or softened with adverbs. Typical combinations are 'entschieden widersprechen' (to strongly contradict), 'vehement widersprechen' (to vehemently contradict), or 'freundlich widersprechen' (to politely contradict).
EXAMPLE
Ich muss Ihnen da ganz entschieden widersprechen.
I must strongly contradict you there.
Impersonal subjects
In this meaning, the subject and the dative object are often impersonal. It is about a logical conflict between two things, e.g. between actions and words or between two statements.
EXAMPLE
Dieses Ergebnis widerspricht allen Erwartungen.
This result contradicts all expectations.
Legal context
This meaning belongs to official and legal language. Here, you object to an official document, for example a 'Bescheid' (official notice), a 'Mahnbescheid' (payment order), or a 'Rechnung' (invoice).
EXAMPLE
Wenn Sie der Rechnung widersprechen wollen, müssen Sie das schriftlich tun.
If you want to object to the invoice, you have to do it in writing.
Compare with
widersprechen vs dagegen
against it / however
'dagegen' and 'widersprechen' can both express that someone does not agree. 'dagegen' describes the position more: you are against an idea or a plan. 'widersprechen' describes the verbal action more strongly: someone directly tells a person that they have a different opinion. In addition, 'widersprechen' can also mean that two statements do not fit together. Practical tip: 'dagegen sein' (to be against it) is an attitude; 'jemandem widersprechen' (to contradict someone) is usually a direct reaction in a conversation.
widersprechen
Sie widerspricht ihrem Chef, weil die Zahlen nicht stimmen.
She contradicts her boss because the numbers are incorrect.
dagegen
Der Plan klingt gut, aber einige Kollegen sind dagegen.
The plan sounds good, but some colleagues are against it.
In real life
Loading video examples...