verb
to promise, to accept, to appeal to (be to someone''s liking)
B1
zusagen: a separable regular verb with three main senses: 'to promise' or commit, 'to accept' (e.g. an invitation), and 'to appeal to' (to be pleasing). Uses auxiliary haben. Regular weak conjugation. Note: in the 'appeal' sense the experiencer is in dative (Das Kleid sagt mir zu). Imperative: 'sag zu'.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Er sagte seine Teilnahme zu.
He confirmed his participation.
Sie hat ihre Hilfe zugesagt.
She agreed to help.
Der Investor sagte dem Projektleiter zu, nachdem er den Geschäftsplan gründlich geprüft hatte.
The investor agreed to the project manager after he had thoroughly reviewed the business plan.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Imagine someone nodding and saying 'zu-sagen' while giving a thumbs-up to accept or promise
sounds like 'zoo-sah-gen' — imagine saying 'I say it (to you)'
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
The verb 'zusagen' is commonly separable (sagt zu, hat zugesagt) when it means 'to accept' or 'to agree'. It can also mean 'to promise'. Context determines nuance. Note: Konjunktiv I simple past (Präteritum) forms are not used; use Konjunktiv II for past/subjunctive meanings when needed.