vorlegen

This is a separable verb. That means the vor part often jumps to the end of your sentence. If you say "I am presenting the passport," it becomes Ich lege den Pass vor. You use it with the accusative case for the object you are showing. It is most common with physical items like IDs, certificates, or reports. You can also use it for abstract things like evidence or a new proposal in a meeting.

You will use this constantly in German bureaucracy. (And yes, there is a lot of it!) Use it at the airport when they ask for your visa. Use it at the bank when they need to see your registration. It is also perfect for professional settings. If you have finished a project draft, you vorlegen it to your supervisor. It feels active and professional. It says, "Here is my work, please look at it."

Do not use vorlegen for casual "showing." If you want to show your friend your new shoes, use zeigen. Vorlegen is too heavy for that. It would sound like you are asking your friend to officially audit your footwear choices! Also, do not use it for "performing" a play or a song. For that, you want aufführen. Keep vorlegen for things that can be read, checked, or verified.

Germany is a country that loves its paperwork and "Nachweise" (proofs). The act of vorlegen is a cultural ritual. It represents the moment of transparency. By "laying it before" someone, you are fulfilling your duty as a citizen or employee. It is the bridge between having a document and having it recognized by the system. There is a certain satisfaction in a German office when the right paper is finally vorgelegt.

You might hear einen Zahn zulegen, which means to speed up. It sounds similar but is totally different! A closer relative is vorliegen. That means something is already there or available. If your application is "vorliegend," the clerk already has it on their desk. Another one is Vorlage. This is a noun meaning a template or a draft. If you are a soccer fan, a Vorlage is also an assist!