VERB
untertreiben/ʊntɐˈtʁaɪ̯bn̩/to exaggerate downward; to understate; to play down
untertreiben is a German verb that means to exaggerate downward, to understate, or to play down. It is pronounced /ʊntɐˈtʁaɪ̯bn̩/. In conjugation, the simple past is "untertrieb" and the past participle is "untertrieben".
Definitions
1.to describe something as less important or less serious than it actually is; to understate(assessment, reporting)
a.to minimize or diminish the significance of something
Er hat die Gefahr im Bericht eindeutig untertrieben.—He clearly understated the danger in the report.
b.to deliberately play down or not fully admit the scope or seriousness of something
Wir sollten die Kosten nicht untertreiben.—We should not play down the costs.
Conjugation
| Infinitive | untertreiben |
|---|---|
| Present (ich) | untertreibe |
| Present (du) | untertreibst |
| Present (er/sie/es) | untertreibt |
| Preterite (ich) | untertrieb |
| Participle II | untertrieben |
| Konjunktiv II (ich) | untertriebe |
| Imperative (singular) | untertreibe |
| Imperative (plural) | untertreibt |
| Auxiliary | haben |
Frequently asked questions
- What does "untertreiben" mean in English?
- "untertreiben" means to exaggerate downward, to understate, or to play down. It is a German verb.
- How do you pronounce "untertreiben"?
- "untertreiben" is pronounced /ʊntɐˈtʁaɪ̯bn̩/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
- What is the past participle of "untertreiben"?
- The past participle (Partizip II) of "untertreiben" is "untertrieben", used with the auxiliary "haben".
- What is the simple past of "untertreiben"?
- In the simple past (Präteritum), "untertreiben" becomes "untertrieb" in the first person singular.
- What part of speech is "untertreiben"?
- "untertreiben" is a verb in German.
