Unterschrieben

Unterschrieben is the past participle of the German verb unterschreiben, meaning to sign a document or to give assent by writing one’s name. It is used to indicate that a signature has been affixed and that a document is officially validated.

Grammatically, unterschreiben is a standard verb with forms such as ich unterschreibe, du unterschreibst, er hat unterschrieben. In passive or perfect constructions one can say Der Vertrag wurde unterschrieben or Der Vertrag ist unterschrieben. As an attributive adjective, the form unterschrieben can appear before a noun: eine unterschriebene Vollmacht, die unterschriebenen Unterlagen. In many formal contexts, underzeichnen is a near-synonym, and you may also encounter unterzeichnete Vereinbarung or der unterzeichnete Vertrag.

Etymology and usage notes: the prefix unter- in unterschreiben is linked to the idea of signing beneath or under the text, rather than a negation. Although related, unterschreiben and unterzeichnen are not identical in all contexts; unterzeichnen is often preferred in formal or official language, while unterschreiben is common in everyday speech and writing. Both indicate that a document has been legally or contractually approved by the signatory.

Common contexts include contracts, consent forms, and official letters. The term is used across German-speaking countries and appears in legal, administrative, and corporate texts as well as daily communication.