bedeutet

Bedeutet is the third-person singular present tense of the German verb bedeuten. The verb means to signify, denote, or mean something, expressing the sense, significance, or implication of a word, phrase, action, or situation.

Usage: bedeuten is transitive and takes a direct object that represents what is meant. Common constructions include Das bedeutet … and Was bedeutet das? to ask for or state the meaning. In dictionaries, bedeuten corresponds to mean or signify. In subordinate clauses you can use dass to introduce the content of the meaning: Das bedeutet, dass … In translations, it is often rendered as mean, signify, or denote.

Origin and related terms: The verb is formed with the prefix be- added to deuten (to point or to interpret). It is closely related to the noun Bedeutung, meaning meaning or significance. The noun Deutung refers to interpretation, while Sinn can denote sense or connotation. In linguistic and philosophical usage, Bedeutung, Sinn, and Deutung occupy related but distinct roles in discussing language, signs, and interpretation.

Examples: Das Wort "Hund" bedeutet "dog" in Englisch. In diesem Kontext bedeutet der Satz, dass … In many cases, Bedeutung emphasizes denotation or explicit signification, while Sinn can carry broader sense or nuance.

See also: Bedeutung, Deutung, Deutungshoheit, Sinn, Sprachsemantik.