Zugeben

Zugeben is a German verb meaning to admit, confess, or acknowledge something, and it can also mean to add something, for example in a cooking context when adding an ingredient. The verb combines the prefix zu- with geben, and it is typically treated as separable in many tenses: for example, ich gebe zu, du gibst zu, er gibt zu.

Etymology and meaning: The form derives from geben with the prefix zu-, creating multiple related senses around admission and addition. In everyday use, zugeben often conveys acknowledging a fact, fault, or statement. In recipes or instructions, it can mean to add an ingredient to a mixture.

Conjugation and grammar: As a separable verb, zugeben uses the prefix separated in the present tense constructions (ich gebe zu, du gibst zu, er gibt zu, wir geben zu, ihr gebt zu, sie geben zu). In perfect tense, the auxiliary haben is used with the past participle zugegeben (ich habe zugegeben, du hast zugegeben, er hat zugegeben, etc.). The infinitive can appear as zuzugeben in, for example, subordinate clauses or after the infinitive marker.

Usage notes and examples: Zugeben is commonly employed to state that someone accepts or acknowledges something. Examples: Er hat die Tat zugegeben. (He confessed to the act.) Ich habe zugegeben, einen Fehler gemacht zu haben. (I admitted that I had made a mistake.) Es ist zuzugeben, dass die Ergebnisse enttäuschend sind. (It must be admitted that the results are disappointing.) In cooking or instructions, one may say Noch etwas Salz zugeben. (Add a little more salt.)

See also: gestehen, anerkennen, einräumen. These terms cover related notions of admitting, acknowledging, or conceding in various contexts.