Unterweisen

Unterweisen is a German verb that means to instruct, educate, or train someone in a specific area, task, or set of procedures. It implies a deliberate, practical mode of teaching that provides concrete knowledge, skills, or safety rules, often in a structured format. The person or group being instructed is the direct object of the verb, and the content can range from technical procedures to routine workplace practices.

The related noun Unterweisung refers to the act or process of instruction, training, or a briefing, with a common emphasis on safety, compliance, or procedural knowledge. In everyday and formal contexts, unterweisen appears in settings such as workplace onboarding, technical training, or demonstrations of how to operate equipment. In regulatory or safety contexts, Unterweisung denotes mandatory instruction designed to ensure proper conduct and risk mitigation.

Unterweisen differs from similar terms in German. Unterrichten typically conveys general teaching or lecturing, while Schulung emphasizes training or courses, often with a practical component. The choice of term can reflect nuances in purpose (broad instruction versus targeted training) and context (educational versus operational or safety-oriented). An example sentence is: Der Ausbilder unterweist die neuen Mitarbeiter in der sicheren Bedienung der Maschine. Another common usage is die Unterweisung in Arbeitssicherheit, which is frequently required by regulations.