Vorweist

Vorweist is not a standard dictionary entry in German. In most contexts, the intended verb is vorweisen, a separable verb meaning to present or to show something (often a document) to someone in authority. The common present-tense forms split the prefix: ich weise vor, du weist vor, er weist vor, wir weisen vor, ihr weist vor, sieweisen vor. The form vorweist does not belong to the standard conjugation and is generally considered nonstandard or a typographical error in contemporary German.

Usage and meaning

Vorweisen is used when someone produces a document or item for inspection, authentication, or verification. Typical contexts include legal, administrative, or border-control situations. In many cases, speakers also use the synonym vorlegen; however, vorzeigen is more about showing something directly to another person, while vorweisen emphasizes the act of presenting to satisfy a requirement. A related noun is der Vorweis, referring to the act of presenting or to the document shown (the proof or identification).

Grammatical notes

As a separable prefix verb, vorweisen conjugates with the prefix occurring before the verb’s main part in the sentence: er weist vor, sie weisen vor. Past participle: vorgewiesen; perfect tense with haben: er hat den Ausweis vorgewiesen. The past participle is distinct from the noun Vorweis, which denotes the act or the presented document itself.

See also

Vorlegen, Vorzeigen, Nachweis, Nachweisen.