Weiterempfehlen

Weiterempfehlen is a German verb meaning to recommend something to other people or to pass along a recommendation. The prefix weiter- adds the sense of forwarding or extending the recommendation beyond the original recipient. The base verb empfehlen means to recommend. Weiterbildung: weiterempfehlen is a separable prefix verb, so in the present tense it is split: Ich empfehle das Buch weiter. In the perfect tense the past participle is weiterempfohlen (Ich habe das Buch weiterempfohlen).

Noun forms related to the concept include die Weiterempfehlung, meaning a recommendation to others or a referral, and das Weiterempfehlungsprogramm, referring to a referral program. In business and marketing contexts, Weiterempfehlung is a key mechanism of word-of-mouth and customer referral strategies.

Usage and contexts: weiterempfehlen is commonly used for endorsing products, services, or experiences to friends, family, or colleagues. It appears in both informal speech and formal communication, including marketing texts. In digital environments, features such as Weiterempfehlung-Buttons or Refer-a-Friend programs explicitly encourage users to share recommendations.

Relation to empfehlen: while empfehlen can indicate a direct recommendation to a specific person, weiterempfehlen emphasizes dissemination to a broader audience or network. The concept relies on trust in the recommender, as personal endorsements often influence others’ choices.

Etymology and note: the prefix weiter- is a productive German device that signals continuation or transmission, as in weitergeben, weiterreisen, or weiterverrichten.