beitragen

Beitragen is a German verb meaning to contribute or to add something that helps achieve a result. It is a separable verb; in present tense the form is trägt bei (er trägt bei), in the past trug bei, and in the perfect beigetragen. It is commonly used with a following prepositional object introduced by zu, as in etw. zu etw. beitragen, or in sentences such as Er trägt zur Lösung des Problems bei or Sie trägt finanziell zum Projekt bei.

Usage and meaning: The verb describes providing ideas, money, effort, or material that supports a collective outcome. It can refer to concrete contributions or to more abstract input. A closely related expression is Beitrag leisten, meaning to make a contribution in general, often in formal or institutional contexts. The construction etw. zu etw. beitragen highlights the target of the contribution, for example Er trägt zur Lösung des Problems bei (he contributes to solving the problem).

Etymology and relation to other terms: Beitragen is formed from the prefix bei- (with, toward) and tragen (to carry). The concept is metaphorical: one carries or adds something toward a goal. The noun Be­­trag is related and denotes the actual contribution, which can be a monetary amount, a piece of information, an idea, or a time effort. In written German, Be­­träge appears in discussions, publications, and reports to indicate individual inputs or scholarly contributions.

Usage notes: Beitragen is versatile across domains, including everyday language, business, and academia. It is typically followed by a prepositional phrase with zu (dative) and may appear in various tenses with the usual auxiliary haben in perfect tenses.