verweisen

Verweisen is a German verb that primarily means to refer, point to, or direct someone to something or someone else. It can indicate directing attention to a source, a rule, or another person. In everyday usage, it often conveys the action of pointing someone toward a relevant authority, document, or piece of information, as in pointing a student to the assignment or directing a reader to a cited source.

The verb is composed with the prefix ver- added to weisen (to show, indicate). The result conveys directing or referring beyond the immediate context. It is used with various prepositional objects, most commonly auf + accusative or an + accusative, depending on what is being referenced. Examples include: jemanden auf etwas verweisen (to refer someone to something) and auf eine Quelle verweisen (to cite or point to a source). In professional or medical contexts, one can verweisen someone an einen Facharzt (to refer to a specialist).

Conjugation centers on the present tense forms verweist, verweisen, and related forms: ich verweise, du verweist, er verweist, wir verweisen, ihr verweist, sie verweisen. The past participle is verwiesen, with the perfect tense formed as hat verwiesen. The simple past is verwies. This variability means speakers often adjust formality and tense to fit the context.

As a noun, Verweis can mean a reference or citation (in scholarly work or documentation) and, in educational or organizational settings, a verbal or written warning. The plural Verweise covers multiple references or citations. The term thus spans citation practice, cross-referencing, and disciplinary contexts, making it a versatile component of German academic, administrative, and everyday language.