entscheiden vs beschließen
German word comparison
Listen to entscheiden
Listen to beschließen
| entscheiden | beschließen |
|---|---|
ent-SCHIE-den verb | [bəˈʃliːsən] verb |
| to decide; to make a decision | to resolve or adopt a decision, often by a group or formally |
How they differ
Beschließen usually implies a formal or collective resolution (e.g., by a committee, board or parliament) and focuses on the act of adopting a resolution; entscheiden is more general and can be used for individual choices and rulings as well.
When to use each
When to use entscheiden: Use entscheiden when describing making a choice or rendering a judgment, whether by an individual or an authority.
When to use beschließen: Use beschließen when a group or formal body adopts a decision or passes a resolution.
Side-by-side examples
- Die Richter entschieden zugunsten des Klägers.
(The judges decided in favor of the plaintiff.) - Der Vorstand beschloss, die Richtlinien zu ändern.
(The board resolved to change the guidelines.)
Register & nuance: Beschließen is more formal and often used for institutional or official contexts, while entscheiden is neutral and widely used.