zuweisen
to assign
To officially allocate or give someone a task, a place, or a resource.
EXAMPLE
Jedem Teilnehmer wurde ein fester Sitzplatz zugewiesen.
Each participant was assigned a fixed seat.
zuweisen
to assign
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Meanings
zuweisen
to attribute
To attribute a particular quality, meaning, or role to a person or thing.
EXAMPLE
Man kann diesem Kunstwerk viele verschiedene Bedeutungen zuweisen.
Many different meanings can be attributed to this work of art.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Zuweisen' (to assign) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zu' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer weist jedem Schüler eine Aufgabe zu.
The teacher assigns each student a task.
Dative construction
This verb is typically used with a person in the dative and a thing in the accusative. The structure is: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) zuweisen.
EXAMPLE
Die Firma wies mir ein neues Projekt zu.
The company assigned me a new project.
Register and style
'Zuweisen' (to assign) is a rather formal word that is often used in administration, at work, or in official contexts.
EXAMPLE
Dem Antragsteller wurde eine Bearbeitungsnummer zugewiesen.
The applicant was assigned a processing number.
Context clue
In this meaning, it is about the concrete distribution of tasks, places, or resources. You can recognize it by the fact that a practical thing is allocated to a person.
EXAMPLE
Jedem Mitarbeiter wurde ein eigener Parkplatz zugewiesen.
Each employee was assigned their own parking space.
Compare with
zuweisen vs übertragen
to transmit / transfer
Übertragen emphasizes that a person receives a task or responsibility and becomes responsible for it. Zuweisen more strongly refers to officially or administratively assigning a task to someone. Use übertragen when responsibility is being handed over, and zuweisen when the focus is on organizational allocation.
zuweisen
Die Abteilungsleiterin weist Amir den Fall zur Bearbeitung zu.
The department manager assigns the case to Amir for processing.
übertragen
Die Abteilungsleiterin überträgt Amir die Verantwortung für den Fall.
The department manager transfers responsibility for the case to Amir.
In real life
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