untersuchen

examine

verb un-ter-ZOO-khen Less Common

Also means

investigate

Usage Note

untersuchen is inseparable despite looking like it starts with the separable prefix unter-, so the participle is untersucht with no internal ge-. A doctor untersucht a patient and a detective untersucht a crime. The matching noun is die Untersuchung.

Examples

"Der Arzt untersucht den Patienten."

Natural Translation

The doctor examines the patient.

Literal Translation

The doctor examines the patient.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Modal Verbs: Können, Müssen, Wollen and More

German modal verbs put the modal in position 2 and the real verb at the end. Master können, müssen, wollen and the rest with charts and clear examples.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

Du vs. Sie: When to Use Each in German

Use Sie with strangers, elders, and at work; use du with friends, family, kids, and peers. Here's how to pick the right German you every time.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Weil vs Denn vs Da: "Because" in German

Weil and da send the verb to the end; denn keeps it in second position. Here's how to pick the right German "because" and place the verb correctly.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Bitte in German: Please, You're Welcome, and More

Bitte means please, you're welcome, here you go, and pardon in German. Learn all the meanings, bitte schön vs bitte sehr, and the danke-bitte rule.

June 5, 2026 5 min read