genügen

Genügen is a German verb meaning to be enough or to suffice. It describes a situation in which a quantity, quality, or argument meets a required standard. In everyday use it is often impersonal, as in es genügt, meaning that something is enough. It can also take a dative object to indicate the person for whom something suffices: Es genügt mir; Genügen diese Belege dem Richter?

Etymology and related terms: genügen comes from the Germanic family of languages and is cognate with Dutch genoeg and English enough. The verb forms part of common German usage and has parallels in related West Germanic languages.

Usage and constructions: Genügen can refer to resources such as time, money, or materials, as well as to evidence or arguments. Examples include: Dieses Argument genügt. Genügen diese Belege dem Richter? Es genügt, wenn du pünktlich bist. In a sentence with a subordinate clause, the verb often appears at the end of the clause in German syntax.

Conjugation and mood: The present tense is typically used in the impersonal form es genügt. The verb is conjugated as a weak verb; common past forms are genügte (simple past) and hat genügt (present perfect). Subjunctive forms exist and include genüge in indirect speech or formal contexts.

Nuance and synonyms: Genügen conveys a sense of sufficiency that meets a requirement, sometimes with a sense of adequacy rather than abundance. Synonyms include ausreichen and reichen, though genügen emphasizes that the minimum standard has been met rather than an excess.

See also: Genug, Genügsamkeit, Ausreichen.