Before you start

Meet zutrauen

Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.

Build the meaning

zu- + trauen

zu-
toward someone, as something attributed to them
trauen
to trust

You direct your trust toward someone and attribute the ability to do something to them.

So zutrauen means to believe someone is capable of doing something.

A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.

Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.

Separable verb: zu·trauen

In a main clause the prefix zu splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.

Main clauseEr traut seinem Sohn viel zu.He believes his son can do a lot.
Subordinate clauseSie sagt, dass er mir das zutraut.She says that he thinks I can do it.
Participle: zugetrautzu-infinitive: zuzutrauen
Forms

How zutrauen changes

PronounPräsensPräteritum
ichtraue zutraute zu
dutraust zutrautest zu
er/sie/estraut zutraute zu
wirtrauen zutrauten zu
ihrtraut zutrautet zu
Sietrauen zutrauten zu

Partizip II zugetraut · Perfekt with haben

Three examples

  1. 1
    Ich traue dir diese Arbeit zu.I think you can do this work.prefix goes to the end
  2. 2
    Sie hat ihm den Sieg zugetraut.She believed he could win.Perfekt with haben
  3. 3
    Ich bleibe hier, weil ich es ihr zutraue.I’ll stay here because I think she can do it.verb at the end after weil