Prahlen

Prahlen is a German verb meaning to boast or brag about one's achievements, possessions, or qualities. It conveys self-promotion and is typically assessed negatively in everyday speech. The action is usually described with the preposition mit to specify what is being boasted about: er prahlt mit seinem neuen Auto; sie prahlte damit, reich zu sein. The term can also be used more broadly to describe ostentatious self-promotion in conversation or writing.

Etymology and usage: The word is part of Standard German with roots in the Germanic language family. Its form has been attested since the Middle Ages and is cognate with Dutch pralen and related West Germanic words. It remains common in both formal and informal language, though it often carries a negative nuance.

Conjugation and nuance: Prahlen is a regular verb. Present tense: ich prahle, du prahlst, er prahlt, wir prahlen, ihr prahlt, sie prahlen. Preterite: ich prahlte, du prahltest, er prahlte, wir prahlten, ihr prahltet, sie prahlten. Past participle: geprahlt. In usage, prahlen implies self-promotion that may provoke disapproval; alternatives with less negative connotation include angeben (to boast about in a more matter-of-fact way) or protzen (to show off).

Related terms: Related terms include angeben and protzen, which share nuances of showing off, while the opposite concept is Bescheidenheit (modesty).