durchschauen

see through

verb doorkh-SHOW-en Less Common

Also means

comprehend fully

Usage Note

durchschauen means to see through a deception or fully understand a complex matter; stressed on the second syllable it is inseparable. Forms: durchschaut, durchschaute, hat durchschaut. Common: jemandes Absichten durchschauen.

Examples

"Sie durchschaute seine Ausreden sofort."

Natural Translation

She saw through his excuses at once.

Literal Translation

She saw-through his excuses immediately.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

How to Tell Time in German Without Mistakes

Halb sieben means 6:30, not 7:30. Master telling time in German — Viertel nach, halb, vor, the 24-hour clock, and the prepositions that trip up beginners.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Word Order: The Verb Rules That Trip You Up

German word order comes down to three verb-position rules: the verb is second in main clauses, last after weil and dass, and time comes before place.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Tipping in Germany: A Visitor's Etiquette Guide

Tipping in Germany means saying your total out loud, not leaving coins. Learn the exact phrases, how much to tip, and the Sie-vs-du etiquette travelers need.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Umlauts & ß: Sounds and Typing

Pronounce ä, ö, ü with the front-tongue, rounded-lips rule, master the ß vs ss spelling, and type every German umlaut on Mac, Windows, and phone.

June 5, 2026 6 min read