to trace back
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to trace back
To track the origin, source, or course of something step by step back to its beginning.
Die Polizei konnte den Anruf bis zu einer Telefonzelle zurückverfolgen.
The police were able to trace the call back to a phone booth.
to retrace
To follow a path or route in the opposite direction back to the starting point.
Dank der Spuren im Schnee konnten wir unseren Weg zum Auto leicht zurückverfolgen.
Thanks to the tracks in the snow, we were able to retrace our way to the car easily.
'Zurückverfolgen' (to trace back) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zurück' goes at the end in a main clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zurückzuverfolgen' is written as one word.
Die Historikerin verfolgte die Familiengeschichte bis ins Mittelalter zurück.
The historian traced the family history back to the Middle Ages.
In the meaning 'to find the origin', the verb is often used with abstract things. Typical combinations are 'einen Anruf' (a call), 'eine E-Mail' (an email), 'die Herkunft' (the origin), or 'die Geschichte' (the history) zurückverfolgen (to trace back).
Der Journalist konnte die Falschmeldung bis zur Quelle zurückverfolgen.
The journalist was able to trace the false report back to the source.
When it is about going along a path in the opposite direction, typical combinations are 'seine Schritte' (one's steps), 'den Weg' (the way), or 'die Spuren' (the tracks) zurückverfolgen (to retrace).
Wir mussten unsere Schritte zurückverfolgen, weil wir uns verlaufen hatten.
We had to retrace our steps because we had gotten lost.
to understand
Nachvollziehen and zurückverfolgen can both refer to understanding something step by step. Zurückverfolgen, however, focuses on the origin, source, or beginning; nachvollziehen mainly means understanding a process or a reason. Use zurückverfolgen for an origin, and nachvollziehen for an explanation.
Die Polizei konnte die Herkunft des Geldes bis zu diesem Konto zurückverfolgen.
The police were able to trace the origin of the money back to this account.
Ich konnte nachvollziehen, warum er nach diesem Gespräch gegangen war.
I could understand why he had left after that conversation.
