begründe

Begründe is a form of the German verb begründen. The infinitive begründen means to justify or to base something on reasons, and also in a historical sense to found or establish something. The prefix be- adds a sense of making the action apply to a specific object, while Grund/Gründe relates to foundation or reason.

In everyday usage, begründen is most often used to indicate providing justification or reasons for a statement, decision, or action. Typical constructions include “etwas begründen” (to justify something) and “eine Begründung liefern” (to provide justification). For example: “Er konnte seine Entscheidung klar begründen.” In the sense of founding a company or institution, however, the common verb is usually “gründen” rather than “begründen.”

Begründe also appears as an imperative form, used to command someone to justify something: “Begründe deine Entscheidung.” In indirect speech or reported statements, the Konjunktiv I form is used, as in “Sie sagte, er begründe seine Position.” The noun form Begründung refers to the justification or reasoning itself, while Begründer (or Begründung) denotes the person or act of founding, depending on context.

Related terms include Begründung (justification), begründet (formed as a result of justification or founded), and Begründer/Begründerin (founder). Etymologically, begründen combines be- with gründen, the latter linked to foundation or base, deriving from the same root as Grund (ground, reason).