bewerben

German

Etymology

From Middle High German bewerben, from Old High German bihwerban. Equivalent to be- +‎ werben.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bəˈvɛrbən/, [bəˈvɛɐ̯.bm̩], [-ˈvɛʁ-], [-ˈʋɛɐ̯-], [-ˈʋɛʁ-], [-bən]

Verb

1. (reflexive) to apply (submit oneself as a candidate)

   Nach ihrem Abschluss an der Universität bewarb sie sich sofort bei einem Autokonzern um/für eine Stelle als Ingenieurin.

   After having received her university degree, she immediately applied to a big car company for a job as an engineer.

2. (reflexive, formal) to try to win (a favour); to court

   Synonym: werben

   Er bewirbt sich um sie.

   He tries to win her favour. / He courts her.

   Er bewirbt sich um die Aufmerksamkeit seines Chefs.

   He tries to win his boss’s attention.

3. (transitive) to advertise

   Synonym: werben (für)

   Die Produkte werden mit grellen Etiketten beworben.

   The products are advertised with lurid labels.

Usage notes

• The objective of the solicitation is given with um, in the sense of “apply” alternatively also with für. The recipient is given with bei.
• The preposition auf + accusative is used to give the occasion of an application: sich auf eine Stellenanzeige bewerben (“to apply in response to a job advertisement”). Some speakers also use this construction for the job itself (sich auf eine Stelle bewerben), but this may be frowned upon and is at any rate informal.

Derived terms

• Bewerbung

Further reading

• “bewerben” in Duden online