zeigen vs vorführen
German word comparison
Listen to zeigen
Listen to vorführen
| zeigen | vorführen |
|---|---|
ZEI-gen verb | ˈfoːɐ̯ˌfyːʁən verb |
| to show; to point out or demonstrate something to someone | to demonstrate or present something (often a device, technique, or performance) |
How they differ
Vorführen implies an active demonstration or performance — showing how something works or displaying it to an audience — whereas zeigen can simply mean pointing something out without demonstration. Vorführen often involves a step-by-step or performative element.
When to use each
When to use zeigen: Choose zeigen when you just want to indicate or display something without the sense of a demonstration or performance.
When to use vorführen: Choose vorführen when you want to emphasize demonstrating functionality, giving a live presentation, or showing a performance.
Side-by-side examples
- Er zeigte uns, wie die Maschine funktioniert.
(He showed us how the machine works.) - Der Techniker führte uns die neue Maschine vor.
(The technician demonstrated the new machine to us.)
Register & nuance: Vorführen is common in neutral to informal registers (product demos, performances) but can also be used in formal demo contexts; it is more action-oriented than zeigen.