absprechen

Absprechen is a German verb with a separable prefix, and it has two primary meanings that share the same base form but differ in context. In everyday and formal language it most often means either to deny or deprive someone of something, or to withhold a claim or quality from someone. For example, der Bericht spricht dem Politiker jede Glaubwürdigkeit ab (the report denies the politician any credibility), or Dem Angeklagten wird die Schuld abgesprochen (the guilt is denied to the accused).

The second main meaning is to discuss and agree on something in advance, i.e., to coordinate or settle details with another person or group. This usage is commonly reflexive: wir sprechen uns ab (we coordinate / we agree on a plan) or Wir haben die Details abgesprochen (we settled the details). This sense emphasizes collaborative planning and mutual agreement.

Form and usage notes: absprechen is a separable verb. In present tense the prefix separates: ich spreche ab, du sprichst ab, er spricht ab, wir sprechen ab, ihr sprecht ab, sie sprechen ab. With reflexive usage it can appear as sich absprechen or sich absprechen with another person: wir sprechen uns ab. The past participle is abgesprochen, and the perfect forms use haben: Wir haben uns abgesprochen; Der Plan ist abgesprochen. Related terms include abstimmen (to coordinate or vote) and ablehnen (to reject), which can share the sense of denial or coordination depending on context.