trauen

Trauen is a German verb with several related meanings that share the idea of confidence or ascent from a risk. In everyday language it most often means to trust or have confidence in someone or something, as in Ich traue dir. It can also mean to dare or to venture to do something, especially in reflexive form: Ich traue mich nicht, etwas zu sagen. In historical and ceremonial contexts it can mean to marry someone, for example Der Pfarrer traute das Paar or Das Paar wurde getraut. The noun for the wedding ceremony is Trauung.

Usage notes and nuances: While vertrauen is a common synonym for “to trust,” traue conveys a more personal, often emotional element of belief or hope. The reflexive form sich trauen denotes daring oneself to perform an action, commonly used with an infinitive clause: Ich traue mich, die Frage zu beantworten. Negation is Ich traue mir nicht. In the past, the verb uses getraut in contexts related to marriage (Der Pfarrer hat das Paar getraut; Sie wurden getraut) or in reflexive form for daring (Ich habe mich getraut).

Conjugation and forms: Trauen is a regular verb in many forms. Present tense: ich traue, du traust, er traut, wir trauen, ihr traut, sie trau en. Simple past: ich traute, du trautest/traute, er traute, wir trauten, ihr trautet, sie trauten. Perfect forms depend on meaning: for daring or wedding, ich habe mich getraut; for trusting, ich habe ihm vertraut. The past participle getraut is used in the senses related to marriage or to daring.

Related terms and concepts include Trauung (wedding ceremony), Trauzeuge (wedding witness), and Vertrauen (trust as a noun).