evaluieren
evaluieren en 30 secondes
- Evaluieren is a formal German verb meaning 'to evaluate' or 'to assess' systematically.
- It is primarily used in academic, business, and political contexts for data-driven judgments.
- The verb follows the -ieren pattern, meaning its past participle is 'evaluiert' without 'ge-'.
- It is more formal than 'bewerten' and implies a structured process involving specific criteria.
The German verb evaluieren is a sophisticated, high-register term that English speakers will recognize as a cognate of 'to evaluate'. At its core, it describes the systematic, objective, and often scientific process of assessing something to determine its value, effectiveness, quality, or impact. Unlike more common verbs like prüfen (to check) or testen (to test), evaluieren implies a structured methodology involving criteria, data collection, and a final judgment. It is most frequently encountered in academic, professional, and political contexts where evidence-based conclusions are required.
- Academic Context
- In universities, professors use this word when they analyze the results of a study or when students are asked to provide feedback on a course (Lehrveranstaltungsevaluation). It suggests a deep dive into the data to see if the learning objectives were met.
- Business and Management
- Companies evaluieren their marketing strategies, project outcomes, or employee performance. It moves beyond a simple 'good or bad' and focuses on 'why' and 'how much'.
- Political and Social Science
- When a new law is passed or a social program is implemented, the government will later evaluieren its success to decide if it should be continued or modified.
Wir müssen die langfristigen Auswirkungen dieser Reform gründlich evaluieren, bevor wir weitere Schritte unternehmen.
The word carries a weight of authority. If you tell a German colleague you are 'checking' the data (ich prüfe die Daten), it sounds like a routine task. If you say you are 'evaluating' the data (ich evaluiere die Daten), it suggests you are conducting a meaningful analysis that will lead to a strategic decision. Because it is a Latinate loanword, it follows the '-ieren' conjugation pattern, which is typical for academic and technical verbs in German. This makes it relatively easy for English speakers to conjugate, but one must be careful not to over-use it in casual settings, as it can sound overly formal or even pretentious in a relaxed conversation among friends.
Die Experten evaluieren derzeit die Wirksamkeit des neuen Impfstoffs in verschiedenen Altersgruppen.
Furthermore, the concept of 'Evaluation' (the noun form) is a huge field in Germany, especially in the public sector. There are specific 'Evaluationsberichte' (evaluation reports) that follow strict standards. When you use the verb, you are invoking this world of precision and accountability. It is also common in the tech world, where software performance or user interfaces are systematically evaluated against benchmarks. In essence, whenever you are measuring success against a goal using a logical framework, evaluieren is your best choice.
Nach dem Projektende werden wir alle Prozesse evaluieren, um Fehler in der Zukunft zu vermeiden.
- Scientific Research
- Hypotheses are not just checked; they are evaluated through rigorous testing and data interpretation.
Es ist wichtig, die Risiken objektiv zu evaluieren.
In conclusion, evaluieren is a powerful tool in your B1+ vocabulary. It allows you to express complex analytical actions succinctly. While a beginner might say 'Ich schaue, ob das gut ist' (I'm looking to see if that's good), an intermediate learner says 'Ich evaluiere die Qualität' (I am evaluating the quality), instantly sounding more professional and precise.
Using evaluieren correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical behavior as a transitive verb. This means it always takes a direct object in the accusative case—the thing that is being evaluated. Because it ends in -ieren, it does not use the ge- prefix in its past participle form (e.g., evaluiert, not geevaluiert). This is a standard rule for German verbs of foreign origin.
- Direct Object (Accusative)
- You evaluate *something*. 'Wir evaluieren den Plan' (We evaluate the plan). 'Den Plan' is masculine accusative.
- Passive Voice
- Since the focus is often on the process rather than the person, the passive voice is very common. 'Die Daten werden evaluiert' (The data are being evaluated).
Das Unternehmen hat die neue Software gründlich evaluiert, bevor sie gekauft wurde.
When constructing sentences, you will often find evaluieren paired with adverbs that describe the depth or manner of the evaluation. Common pairings include kritisch (critically), wissenschaftlich (scientifically), systematisch (systematically), and umfassend (comprehensively). These adverbs help emphasize the rigorous nature of the action.
In subordinate clauses, the verb moves to the end as per standard German word order. 'Ich denke, dass wir die Ergebnisse noch einmal evaluieren sollten' (I think that we should evaluate the results once more). Notice how evaluieren stays in the infinitive because of the modal verb sollten.
Es ist notwendig, dass die Kommission die Vorschläge neutral evaluiert.
- Infinitive with 'zu'
- 'Es ist schwer, diese Situation zu evaluieren' (It is difficult to evaluate this situation). The 'zu' comes right before the infinitive.
Another important aspect is the tense. In professional writing, the Präteritum (simple past) is often used: 'Das Team evaluierte die Optionen'. In spoken German, the Perfekt (present perfect) is preferred: 'Wir haben die Optionen evaluiert'. Because evaluieren is a 'weak' verb, its forms are predictable: evaluiere, evaluierst, evaluiert, evaluieren, evaluiert, evaluieren. The past is evaluierte and the participle is evaluiert.
Haben Sie die Rückmeldungen der Kunden bereits evaluiert?
Finally, consider the noun-verb connection. Often, Germans use the noun Evaluation with a verb like durchführen (to carry out). 'Wir führen eine Evaluation durch' is a very common alternative to 'Wir evaluieren'. This 'Funktionsverbgefüge' style is very common in official German and can make you sound even more native in a business context.
You are most likely to encounter evaluieren in environments that prioritize data, logic, and formal processes. It is not a word you would typically hear at a loud party or while buying vegetables at the market, but it is ubiquitous in the following spheres:
- Higher Education (Die Uni)
- At the end of every semester, students are asked to 'die Vorlesung evaluieren'. This is a formal process where students fill out questionnaires about the professor's teaching quality.
- Corporate Meetings (Meetings)
- Managers use it to sound professional. Instead of saying 'Let's see if this worked,' they say 'Wir müssen die Performance der letzten Kampagne evaluieren.' It signals that a report or analysis is expected.
- News and Media (Nachrichten)
- News anchors use it when discussing government policies. 'Die Bundesregierung evaluiert die Auswirkungen der Gaspreisbremse.' It implies that there is a committee of experts looking at the numbers.
In der nächsten Sitzung werden wir die Testergebnisse evaluieren.
In the tech industry, evaluieren is used during the 'Evaluation phase' of software development or when choosing a new tech stack. Developers might say, 'Wir evaluieren gerade, ob wir React oder Vue für das neue Frontend nutzen sollen.' Here, it means a technical comparison based on performance, community support, and ease of use.
Die Studie muss noch einmal unabhängig evaluiert werden, um die Validität sicherzustellen.
Medical professionals also use it when assessing a patient's response to treatment over time. A doctor might say, 'Wir müssen den Therapieverlauf nach sechs Wochen evaluieren.' This means they will look at blood tests, symptoms, and other data to see if the medicine is working. It sounds much more clinical and precise than just 'checking' (nachsehen).
Können Sie bitte die Effizienz unserer neuen Arbeitsabläufe evaluieren?
Finally, in the world of non-profits and NGOs, evaluieren is a buzzword. These organizations must prove to their donors that their money is being spent effectively. Therefore, they constantly 'evaluieren' their projects in developing countries to show 'Impact'. If you work in this field, you will hear and use this word daily.
While evaluieren is a straightforward cognate, English speakers often fall into a few traps. The most common mistake is using it in contexts that are too informal, which makes the speaker sound like they are trying too hard to be smart.
- Over-Formality
- Don't say 'Ich evaluiere, ob ich heute Abend Pizza esse.' (I am evaluating whether I eat pizza tonight). It sounds ridiculous. Use 'überlegen' (to consider) or 'entscheiden' (to decide) instead.
- The 'ge-' Mistake
- Because it ends in -ieren, the past participle is evaluiert. Never say geevaluiert. This is a common error for beginners who apply the standard ge- -t rule to all weak verbs.
Falsch: Wir haben das Projekt geevaluiert.
Richtig: Wir haben das Projekt evaluiert.
Another mistake is confusing evaluieren with entwickeln (to develop) or analysieren (to analyze). While they are related, evaluieren specifically requires a judgment of value or success. You can analyze a problem without evaluating it (just looking at its parts), but you cannot evaluate something without having some form of analysis first.
Pronunciation is another area where learners struggle. The 'u' and 'i' are distinct sounds. It is not 'eval-yern', but 'e-va-lu-IE-ren'. Make sure to pronounce the 'u' clearly before the 'i'. Also, the stress must be on the 'ie'. If you stress the beginning of the word, Germans might not understand you immediately.
Man sollte nicht nur die Kosten, sondern auch den Nutzen evaluieren.
Finally, watch out for prepositions. Evaluieren is transitive, so it doesn't usually need a preposition. However, if you are talking about the criteria *according to which* you evaluate, you use 'nach' or 'anhand von'. 'Wir evaluieren den Erfolg anhand von Verkaufszahlen' (We evaluate success based on sales figures). Using the wrong preposition here can make the sentence sound clunky.
German has a rich selection of verbs for 'assessing' things. Choosing the right one depends on the context and the level of formality you want to convey. Here is a comparison of evaluieren with its closest relatives:
- Bewerten
- This is the most common alternative. It means 'to rate' or 'to grade'. While evaluieren is scientific/systematic, bewerten can be subjective. You 'bewerten' a movie on IMDb, but a scientist 'evaluiert' the data of a study.
- Beurteilen
- This means 'to judge'. It often refers to a person's character, a situation, or a legal matter. It is more about forming an opinion than measuring data. 'Er kann die Lage gut beurteilen' (He can judge the situation well).
- Prüfen / Überprüfen
- These mean 'to check' or 'to verify'. They are more binary. You check if the door is locked or if the numbers are correct. You don't necessarily look for 'value' or 'effectiveness', just correctness.
Anstatt die Mitarbeiter nur zu kontrollieren, sollten wir die gesamte Unternehmenskultur evaluieren.
Another technical alternative is auswerten. This is specifically used for data or results. When you have a stack of surveys, you 'werten sie aus' (you analyze/extract the data). Evaluieren is the broader process that includes the Auswertung but also the final judgment and recommendations.
Wir müssen die verschiedenen Optionen sorgfältig gegeneinander abwägen (weigh up) und dann evaluieren.
In academic writing, you might also see begutachten. This is what an expert does when they look at a thesis or a building project. It’s like a 'peer review'. Evaluieren is more about the system, while begutachten is more about the specific object or document.
To summarize: Use evaluieren for formal, systematic, data-driven assessments. Use bewerten for general ratings. Use beurteilen for personal or professional judgments. Use auswerten for data analysis. Understanding these distinctions will make your German sound much more precise and natural.
How Formal Is It?
Le savais-tu ?
Verbs ending in '-ieren' in German almost always come from French or Latin, which is why they have a specific conjugation pattern without 'ge-'.
Guide de prononciation
- Stressing the first syllable (E-valuieren).
- Pronouncing it like 'eval-yern' (skipping the 'u').
- Pronouncing the 'v' like an 'f' (it should be 'v').
- Treating it as a separable verb (it is not).
- Adding a 'ge-' in the past participle.
Niveau de difficulté
Easy to recognize for English speakers due to the cognate.
Requires knowledge of the -ieren conjugation and formal context.
Stress on the 4th syllable and 'u-i' vowel sequence can be tricky.
Usually clearly articulated in formal speech.
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Prérequis
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
Verbs ending in -ieren do not take the 'ge-' prefix in the past participle.
Ich habe evaluiert (NOT: geevaluiert).
Stress in -ieren verbs always falls on the 'ie'.
evaluIEren, studIEren, telefonIEren.
Transitive verbs require an accusative object.
Wir evaluieren den (Akk) Prozess.
Passive voice is formed with 'werden' + past participle.
Der Plan wird evaluiert.
Subordinate clauses put the verb at the very end.
Ich glaube, dass wir das evaluieren müssen.
Exemples par niveau
Wir evaluieren die Schule.
We are evaluating the school.
Simple present tense, transitive verb.
Er evaluiert das Spiel.
He evaluates the game.
Third person singular ending -t.
Ich evaluiere die Pizza.
I am evaluating the pizza.
First person singular ending -e.
Sie evaluieren den Plan.
They evaluate the plan.
Plural form matches infinitive.
Wir evaluieren heute.
We are evaluating today.
Adverb 'heute' in the sentence.
Das ist schwer zu evaluieren.
That is hard to evaluate.
Infinitive with 'zu'.
Evaluieren Sie das!
Evaluate that!
Imperative formal form.
Was evaluieren wir?
What are we evaluating?
Interrogative sentence with 'was'.
Hast du den Kurs evaluiert?
Did you evaluate the course?
Perfect tense: haben + evaluiert (no ge-).
Die Firma evaluiert neue Mitarbeiter.
The company evaluates new employees.
Accusative plural 'neue Mitarbeiter'.
Wir evaluierten das Projekt gestern.
We evaluated the project yesterday.
Simple past (Präteritum) 'evaluierten'.
Können wir die Ergebnisse evaluieren?
Can we evaluate the results?
Modal verb 'können' + infinitive.
Sie muss die Daten evaluieren.
She must evaluate the data.
Modal verb 'muss' + infinitive.
Das Team hat alles gut evaluiert.
The team evaluated everything well.
Perfect tense with adverb 'gut'.
Wir evaluieren die App.
We are evaluating the app.
Direct object 'die App'.
Warum evaluieren wir das?
Why are we evaluating this?
Question word 'warum'.
Es ist wichtig, die Qualität regelmäßig zu evaluieren.
It is important to evaluate the quality regularly.
Infinitive clause with 'zu'.
Die Experten evaluieren die Umweltschäden.
The experts are evaluating the environmental damage.
Subject-verb agreement with plural noun.
Wir haben die Strategie kritisch evaluiert.
We have critically evaluated the strategy.
Use of adverb 'kritisch' for nuance.
Bevor wir kaufen, evaluieren wir den Markt.
Before we buy, we evaluate the market.
Subordinate clause with 'bevor'.
Die Software wird zurzeit evaluiert.
The software is currently being evaluated.
Passive voice (Vorgangspassiv).
Man sollte die Risiken vorher evaluieren.
One should evaluate the risks beforehand.
Indefinite pronoun 'man' + modal 'sollte'.
Wir müssen die Feedback-Bögen evaluieren.
We need to evaluate the feedback forms.
Compound noun 'Feedback-Bögen'.
Das Ziel ist, den Erfolg zu evaluieren.
The goal is to evaluate the success.
Noun phrase followed by infinitive clause.
Die Studie evaluiert die Langzeitfolgen des Medikaments.
The study evaluates the long-term effects of the medication.
Specific academic vocabulary 'Langzeitfolgen'.
Es gilt, die Effizienz der neuen Prozesse zu evaluieren.
It is necessary to evaluate the efficiency of the new processes.
Fixed expression 'Es gilt, ... zu'.
Die Kommission evaluiert die eingereichten Vorschläge.
The commission evaluates the submitted proposals.
Participle as adjective 'eingereichten'.
Nachdem wir die Daten evaluiert hatten, trafen wir eine Entscheidung.
After we had evaluated the data, we made a decision.
Plusquamperfekt in a 'nachdem' clause.
Die Maßnahme wurde als nicht effektiv evaluiert.
The measure was evaluated as not effective.
Passive voice with 'als' complement.
Wir evaluieren die Kompatibilität der Systeme.
We are evaluating the compatibility of the systems.
Genitive plural 'der Systeme'.
Es ist ratsam, die Kosten-Nutzen-Relation zu evaluieren.
It is advisable to evaluate the cost-benefit ratio.
Complex compound noun.
Die Teilnehmer wurden gebeten, den Workshop zu evaluieren.
The participants were asked to evaluate the workshop.
Passive voice with infinitive clause.
Die Wirksamkeit der Reform muss empirisch evaluiert werden.
The effectiveness of the reform must be empirically evaluated.
Modal passive with adverb 'empirisch'.
In dieser Arbeit evaluieren wir verschiedene theoretische Ansätze.
In this paper, we evaluate various theoretical approaches.
Academic register, plural 'Ansätze'.
Die Kriterien für die Beförderung wurden neu evaluiert.
The criteria for promotion were re-evaluated.
Passive voice, past tense.
Es ist unumgänglich, die bestehenden Strukturen zu evaluieren.
It is unavoidable to evaluate the existing structures.
High-level adjective 'unumgänglich'.
Das Programm zur Qualitätssicherung wird jährlich evaluiert.
The quality assurance program is evaluated annually.
Present passive with frequency adverb.
Wir müssen evaluieren, inwieweit die Ziele erreicht wurden.
We must evaluate to what extent the goals were achieved.
Indirect question with 'inwieweit'.
Die Gutachter evaluierten die wissenschaftliche Relevanz der Studie.
The reviewers evaluated the scientific relevance of the study.
Subject 'Gutachter' (reviewers).
Die Ergebnisse lassen sich nur schwer objektiv evaluieren.
The results are difficult to evaluate objectively.
Reflexive 'lassen sich' as passive substitute.
Die epistemologische Basis der Studie muss kritisch evaluiert werden.
The epistemological basis of the study must be critically evaluated.
Highly abstract academic vocabulary.
Es gilt, die sozioökonomischen Implikationen tiefgreifend zu evaluieren.
It is necessary to evaluate the socio-economic implications profoundly.
Advanced compound 'sozioökonomisch'.
Die Evaluation der Metadaten ermöglichte eine präzisere Analyse.
The evaluation of the metadata enabled a more precise analysis.
Using the noun 'Evaluation' as a subject.
Sollten die Parameter nicht valide sein, muss der gesamte Prozess evaluiert werden.
Should the parameters not be valid, the entire process must be evaluated.
Conditional clause with 'sollten' at the beginning.
Die diskursive Evaluation der Argumente führte zu einem Konsens.
The discursive evaluation of the arguments led to a consensus.
Adjective 'diskursiv' (discursive).
Wir evaluieren die Nachhaltigkeit der Investitionen über Dekaden hinweg.
We evaluate the sustainability of investments over decades.
Prepositional phrase 'über ... hinweg'.
Die Institution unterzieht ihre Lehrpläne einer ständigen Evaluation.
The institution subjects its curricula to constant evaluation.
Dative object with 'unterziehen'.
Eine Evaluation ohne klare Benchmarks bleibt weitgehend substanzlos.
An evaluation without clear benchmarks remains largely insubstantial.
Sophisticated adjective 'substanzlos'.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— To carry out an evaluation. Common in formal writing.
Wir führen am Ende des Jahres eine Evaluation durch.
— The object/subject being evaluated.
Der Gegenstand der Evaluation ist das neue Schulsystem.
— To evaluate based on specific criteria.
Wir evaluieren die Bewerber nach festen Kriterien.
— To evaluate the current state of affairs.
Zuerst müssen wir den Ist-Zustand evaluieren.
— To evaluate the efficiency (ratio of input to output).
Wir evaluieren die Effizienz der neuen Maschine.
— To evaluate using scientific methods.
Die Hypothese muss wissenschaftlich evaluiert werden.
— To evaluate the quality of a product or service.
Die Qualitätssicherung evaluiert jedes Bauteil.
— To evaluate measures or actions taken.
Die Regierung muss die Corona-Maßnahmen evaluieren.
— To evaluate the feedback received from others.
Wir haben das Feedback der Kunden evaluiert.
— To evaluate the potential of a person or idea.
Wir evaluieren das Marktpotenzial der neuen Erfindung.
Souvent confondu avec
Bewerten is more general and can be subjective (rating a movie). Evaluieren is systematic.
Beurteilen is often about judging people or situations based on opinion/experience.
Entwickeln means to develop/create, while evaluieren means to assess what was already created.
Expressions idiomatiques
— To check something very thoroughly. A more idiomatic/colorful alternative to 'evaluieren'.
Wir haben den neuen Plan auf Herz und Nieren geprüft.
informal/neutral— To take a close look at something; to scrutinize.
Die Journalisten nahmen die Finanzen unter die Lupe.
neutral— To separate the wheat from the chaff (to distinguish good from bad).
Die Evaluation hilft uns, die Spreu vom Weizen zu trennen.
literary— To take stock; to evaluate the final result of an endeavor.
Nach einem Jahr ziehen wir Bilanz und evaluieren den Erfolg.
neutral/business— To cross-examine (usually a person, very intense evaluation).
Der Chef nahm die Bewerber ins Kreuzverhör.
informal/figurative— To put something to the test; to re-evaluate fundamentally.
Alle Ausgaben werden auf den Prüfstand gestellt.
formal/political— To point out exactly where the problem is during an evaluation.
Der Bericht legte den Finger in die Wunde.
journalistic— To pass judgment (the result of an evaluation).
Die Jury wird morgen ihr Urteil fällen.
formal— To name names/be specific during an assessment.
In der Evaluation müssen wir Ross und Reiter nennen.
informal— To lose sight of the big picture during a detailed evaluation.
Bei all den Daten darf man den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht vergessen.
idiomaticFacile à confondre
Sounds similar due to the 'ev-' start.
Evolutionieren (rare) refers to biological or systemic evolution over time. Evaluieren is about assessment.
Die Technik evolutioniert ständig, aber wir müssen ihren Nutzen evaluieren.
Similar Latin root 'ev-'.
Evozieren means to evoke or conjure up (a memory/feeling). Evaluieren is analytical.
Das Bild evoziert Erinnerungen, während wir seinen Wert evaluieren.
Both involve looking at results.
Auswerten is specifically for data processing. Evaluieren is the broader judgment based on that data.
Wir werten die Tests aus und evaluieren dann die gesamte Klasse.
Both can involve numbers.
Rechnen is basic calculation. Evaluieren is qualitative and quantitative assessment.
Ich rechne die Summe aus, um das Budget zu evaluieren.
Both involve determining value.
Schätzen is often a guess or estimation. Evaluieren is based on evidence and criteria.
Ich schätze, es wird teuer, aber wir müssen die Kosten erst evaluieren.
Structures de phrases
Ich habe [Objekt] evaluiert.
Ich habe den Kurs evaluiert.
Es ist wichtig, [Objekt] zu evaluieren.
Es ist wichtig, die Daten zu evaluieren.
Wir müssen evaluieren, ob...
Wir müssen evaluieren, ob der Plan funktioniert.
[Objekt] wird zurzeit evaluiert.
Die Maßnahme wird zurzeit evaluiert.
Nachdem wir [Objekt] evaluiert hatten, ...
Nachdem wir die Optionen evaluiert hatten, wählten wir eine aus.
Die Evaluation von [Nomen] ergab, dass...
Die Evaluation der Studie ergab, dass die Kosten zu hoch sind.
Es gilt, [Objekt] kritisch zu evaluieren.
Es gilt, die bisherigen Erfolge kritisch zu evaluieren.
Einer ständigen Evaluation unterliegen...
Die Prozesse unterliegen einer ständigen Evaluation.
Famille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Apparenté
Comment l'utiliser
Common in professional and academic settings; rare in casual street speech.
-
Ich habe das Projekt geevaluiert.
→
Ich habe das Projekt evaluiert.
Verbs ending in -ieren do not use the 'ge-' prefix in the past participle.
-
Wir evaluieren über den Plan.
→
Wir evaluieren den Plan.
Evaluieren is transitive and takes a direct object. No preposition is needed before the object.
-
Ich evaluiere, was ich heute esse.
→
Ich überlege, was ich heute esse.
Evaluieren is too formal for simple personal decisions. Use 'überlegen' or 'entscheiden'.
-
Die E-valu-ierung ist wichtig.
→
Die Evaluation ist wichtig.
The noun form is 'Evaluation', not 'Evaluierung' (though the latter is sometimes used, 'Evaluation' is the standard technical term).
-
Wir evaluieren die Zahlen im Taschenrechner.
→
Wir berechnen die Zahlen.
For simple mathematical calculations, use 'berechnen'. Evaluieren implies a broader assessment of meaning or value.
Astuces
Professionalism
Use this word in emails to show you are taking a task seriously. 'Ich werde die Optionen evaluieren' sounds much better than 'Ich gucke mal'.
No 'ge-'
Remember: -ieren verbs never take 'ge-'. This is a common mistake that is easy to fix. Evaluiert, studiert, reserviert.
Stress
Always stress the 'ie'. Practice: e-va-lu-IER-en. If you misplace the stress, it sounds very non-native.
Academic writing
In an essay, use 'evaluieren' to describe your analysis of different theories or sources.
Synonym Swap
If you've used 'prüfen' three times in a paragraph, swap one for 'evaluieren' to vary your language.
German Gründlichkeit
Germans love evaluations. Mentioning that you want to 'evaluieren' a process will usually be met with approval in a German office.
Cognate Power
Since it's so close to 'evaluate', focus your energy on the pronunciation and the lack of 'ge-' rather than the meaning.
Compound Nouns
Don't be afraid to create words like 'Projektevaluation'. It's very natural in German.
Filler phrases
Use 'Lassen Sie uns das evaluieren' as a professional way to buy time in a meeting.
News keywords
When you hear 'evaluieren' on Tagesschau, pay attention to the topic—it’s usually about a major policy or scientific discovery.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of the English word 'VALUE'. E-VALU-ieren is the process of finding the VALUE in something.
Association visuelle
Imagine a professor with a magnifying glass looking at a chart with a 'Check' and 'Cross' list.
Word Web
Défi
Try to use 'evaluieren' in your next German writing task instead of 'prüfen' or 'testen'. See if it fits the context!
Origine du mot
Borrowed in the 20th century from French 'évaluer', which comes from the Old French 'es- + value'. The ultimate root is Latin 'valere' (to be strong, to be worth).
Sens originel : To determine the value or price of something.
Latinate / Romance loanword in German.Contexte culturel
No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral, professional term.
English speakers use 'evaluate' similarly, but in German, it feels slightly more academic. 'Assess' is often a better translation for general professional use.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
University / Education
- Die Vorlesung evaluieren
- Feedbackbögen ausfüllen
- Lehrerfolg messen
- Curriculum anpassen
Corporate / Business
- KPIs evaluieren
- Marktpotenzial prüfen
- ROI berechnen
- Quartalszahlen analysieren
Science / Research
- Hypothesen evaluieren
- Versuchsaufbau prüfen
- Statistische Signifikanz
- Peer-Review-Prozess
Medicine
- Therapieerfolg evaluieren
- Nebenwirkungen beobachten
- Patientenstudie
- Klinische Phase
Politics
- Gesetzesfolgen evaluieren
- Wählerstimmen analysieren
- Reformbedarf prüfen
- Öffentliche Meinung
Amorces de conversation
"Wie sollten wir den Erfolg dieses Projekts am besten evaluieren?"
"Haben Sie schon die Ergebnisse der letzten Mitarbeiterumfrage evaluiert?"
"Welche Kriterien sind Ihrer Meinung nach wichtig, um diese Software zu evaluieren?"
"Wann wird die neue Reform von der Regierung evaluiert?"
"Können wir die Wirksamkeit der Werbung bereits evaluieren?"
Sujets d'écriture
Evaluiere deine Fortschritte beim Deutschlernen im letzten Monat. Was lief gut?
Stell dir vor, du bist ein Kritiker. Evaluiere das letzte Buch, das du gelesen hast, nach drei Kriterien.
Warum ist es in der Wissenschaft so wichtig, Ergebnisse unabhängig zu evaluieren?
Evaluiere einen typischen Arbeitstag. Wo gibt es Ineffizienzen?
Sollten Schulen die Lehrer öfter evaluieren? Begründe deine Meinung.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsRarely. You wouldn't use it for small decisions like what to wear. It is almost exclusively for work, university, or formal projects where a structured assessment is needed.
Yes, but it sounds very clinical. You might 'evaluieren' a candidate's skills in a job interview process, but 'beurteilen' is more common for a person's character.
Evaluieren is more formal, systematic, and criteria-based. Bewerten is broader and can include subjective ratings (like giving 5 stars to a restaurant).
It is 'evaluiert'. Verbs ending in -ieren do not use the 'ge-' prefix. For example: 'Wir haben das Projekt evaluiert.'
No, 'evaluieren' is not separable. The stress is on the 'ie', and it stays together in all forms.
You can, but it sounds like a joke. It would mean you are conducting a scientific study on the pizza's quality. Use 'probieren' or 'bewerten' instead.
Yes, the noun is 'die Evaluation' (plural: die Evaluationen). It is used very frequently in German administration.
It is transitive, so it usually takes a direct object. To specify criteria, use 'anhand von' (based on) or 'nach' (according to).
In English, you 'evaluate an expression'. In German math, you usually 'berechnen' (calculate) or 'lösen' (solve) it. Evaluieren is more for systems.
No, it is a neutral, objective term. However, if someone says 'we need to evaluate your performance', it might cause anxiety because it implies a formal test!
Teste-toi 180 questions
Write a sentence using 'evaluieren' in the present tense about a project.
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Write a sentence using 'evaluieren' in the perfect tense.
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Ask a question about evaluating a new software.
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Use 'kritisch' and 'evaluieren' in a sentence.
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Write a sentence with 'Es ist wichtig, ... zu evaluieren'.
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Use 'nachdem' and 'evaluieren' in the past.
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Explain why you evaluate a course.
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Write a formal sentence about a government reform.
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Use the passive voice with 'evaluieren'.
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Write a sentence about evaluating risks.
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Use 'systematisch' in a sentence about evaluation.
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Write a sentence about a student evaluating a professor.
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Use 'anhand von' to describe criteria.
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Write a sentence with 'evaluieren' and a modal verb.
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Create a compound noun with 'Evaluation'.
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Describe a future evaluation.
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Write a sentence about 'Selbstevaluation'.
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Use 'evaluieren' in a 'wenn' clause.
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Write a sentence about scientific relevance.
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Use 'evaluieren' to describe choosing a tech stack.
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Say: 'Wir müssen die Ergebnisse evaluieren.'
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Pronounce 'Evaluation' correctly.
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Explain in German: What does 'evaluieren' mean?
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Say: 'Hast du das Projekt evaluiert?'
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Say: 'Es ist wichtig, die Risiken zu evaluieren.'
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Use 'evaluieren' in a sentence about your job.
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Say: 'Die Software wird zurzeit evaluiert.'
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Discuss: Why is evaluating school courses good?
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Say: 'Wir evaluieren die Wirksamkeit der Maßnahmen.'
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Say: 'Können wir die Daten kritisch evaluieren?'
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Say: 'Ich habe den Bericht gründlich evaluiert.'
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Say: 'Die Evaluation dauert noch an.'
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Say: 'Wir müssen den Erfolg anhand von Zahlen evaluieren.'
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Say: 'Das ist schwer objektiv zu evaluieren.'
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Say: 'Wann evaluieren wir die neue Strategie?'
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Say: 'Die Experten evaluieren die Lage.'
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Say: 'Wir evaluieren die Kompatibilität.'
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Say: 'Er evaluiert die Möglichkeiten.'
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Say: 'Die Teilnehmer evaluieren das Seminar.'
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Say: 'Evaluieren Sie bitte diesen Vorschlag.'
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Listen to the sentence: 'Wir haben alles evaluiert.' Which tense is used?
Listen: 'Die Ergebnisse müssen evaluiert werden.' Is this active or passive?
Listen: 'Wann evaluieren wir?' What is the speaker asking?
Listen for the stress in 'evaluieren'. Is it on the 1st or 4th syllable?
Listen: 'Die Evaluation war erfolgreich.' What was successful?
Listen: 'Wir evaluieren den Markt.' What is the object?
Listen: 'Er evaluiert kritisch.' Which adverb is used?
Listen: 'Haben Sie evaluiert?' Is there a 'ge-' sound?
Listen: 'Es gilt, die Kosten zu evaluieren.' What needs to be evaluated?
Listen: 'Die Kommission evaluiert.' Who is evaluating?
Listen: 'Wir evaluieren jährlich.' How often?
Listen: 'Die Studie evaluiert Folgen.' What does 'Folgen' mean?
Listen: 'Das muss man evaluieren.' Is it a suggestion or obligation?
Listen: 'Die Teilnehmer evaluieren.' Are they the ones doing it?
Listen: 'Wir evaluieren die App.' What are they checking?
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use 'evaluieren' when you want to sound professional and indicate that an assessment is based on data or formal criteria. Example: 'Wir müssen die Effizienz der neuen Software evaluieren.' (We must evaluate the efficiency of the new software.)
- Evaluieren is a formal German verb meaning 'to evaluate' or 'to assess' systematically.
- It is primarily used in academic, business, and political contexts for data-driven judgments.
- The verb follows the -ieren pattern, meaning its past participle is 'evaluiert' without 'ge-'.
- It is more formal than 'bewerten' and implies a structured process involving specific criteria.
Professionalism
Use this word in emails to show you are taking a task seriously. 'Ich werde die Optionen evaluieren' sounds much better than 'Ich gucke mal'.
No 'ge-'
Remember: -ieren verbs never take 'ge-'. This is a common mistake that is easy to fix. Evaluiert, studiert, reserviert.
Stress
Always stress the 'ie'. Practice: e-va-lu-IER-en. If you misplace the stress, it sounds very non-native.
Academic writing
In an essay, use 'evaluieren' to describe your analysis of different theories or sources.
Contenu associé
Plus de mots sur academic
Abbildung
B1Une illustration ou une figure dans un livre ou un document.
Abhandlung
B1Un travail écrit détaillé, souvent académique, qui explore un sujet spécifique en profondeur.
ableiten
B1Dériver ou déduire une conclusion à partir d'une prémisse.
Absatz
B1Un paragraphe dans un texte écrit.
abschließend
B1Utilise 'abschließend' quand tu veux dire quelque chose comme point final ou conclusion.
Abschlussarbeit
B1Un travail académique complet qui marque la fin d'un cycle d'études pour obtenir un diplôme.
Abschlusszeugnis
B1Le document officiel que tu reçois quand tu finis un cours ou l'école.
Abschnitt
B1Une section ou un segment d'un tout plus grand, comme un texte ou une période de temps.
Absolvent
B1Un diplômé est une personne qui a terminé avec succès ses études.
absolvieren
B1Compléter avec succès un cursus universitaire ou une formation professionnelle.