sich hervortun
To excel
Literalmente: to do oneself out/forth
Use it when someone's talent or hard work makes them the star of the show.
En 15 segundos
- Stand out from the crowd.
- Based on skill and merit.
- Use 'sich' and 'durch'.
Significado
To distinguish yourself or stand out from a group by being exceptionally good at something or showing a specific talent.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 7In a school report
In Mathematik tut sie sich besonders hervor.
She excels particularly in mathematics.
Discussing a colleague
Er hat sich durch seinen Fleiß im Team hervorgetan.
He distinguished himself in the team through his diligence.
Sports commentary
Der Torwart tat sich im Elfmeterschießen hervor.
The goalkeeper stood out during the penalty shootout.
Contexto cultural
In Germany, 'Leistung' (achievement) is a core cultural value. This phrase highlights the meritocratic idea of standing out through skill and hard work rather than just personality or wealth.
The 'Durch' Connection
Always try to follow the phrase with 'durch' (through) to explain *how* the person is standing out. It makes your German sound much more complete.
Don't Forget the 'Sich'
It's a reflexive verb! If you forget the 'sich', the sentence breaks. It's like saying 'I excel myself'—the 'myself' is mandatory.
En 15 segundos
- Stand out from the crowd.
- Based on skill and merit.
- Use 'sich' and 'durch'.
What It Means
Imagine you are in a crowded room. Everyone is doing their job. Suddenly, one person does something brilliant. That person is now standing out. In German, we say they sich hervortun. It is more than just being good. It is about being noticeably better. You are stepping out of the shadows. You are showing the world your skills. It is a very active phrase. You are the one doing the doing. It feels empowering and positive.
How To Use It
This phrase is a reflexive verb. That means you need sich. It changes based on who you talk about.
ich tue mich hervor(I excel)du tust dich hervor(you excel)er/sie/es tut sich hervor(he/she/it excels)
It often pairs with durch. This means by or through. For example, durch Fleiß means through hard work. You can also use in. For example, in Mathematik. It sounds very smart. It shows you have a good grip on grammar.
When To Use It
Use this in professional settings. It is perfect for a performance review. You can tell your boss how you hervorgetan yourself. It also works in school contexts. Teachers love this word. Use it when discussing sports stars. If a player scores three goals, they tun sich hervor. It is great for storytelling too. When a hero saves the day, they tun sich hervor. It adds a touch of class to your speech.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for everyday tasks. If you brushed your teeth well, do not use it. That would sound very sarcastic. Unless that is your goal! Also, avoid it for negative things. If someone is being loud and annoying, they are auffällig. They are not hervortun. This phrase is usually for positive merit. Do not use it for passive things. You must be active. You cannot hervortun by just sitting there.
Cultural Background
Germans have a complex relationship with standing out. There is a balance between being a team player and being excellent. But sich hervortun is the good kind of standing out. It is based on Leistung, which means achievement. It is not about being flashy. It is about being competent. It reflects the German respect for craftsmanship. If you work hard, you deserve to be seen. This phrase gives you the words for that recognition.
Common Variations
You might hear the adjective hervorragend. It means outstanding or excellent. They come from the same root. You can also say sich besonders hervortun. This adds emphasis. Sometimes people use it ironically.
sich durch Abwesenheit hervortun(to stand out by being absent)sich als Experte hervortun(to stand out as an expert)
This is a clever way to be funny. It adds variety to your German.
Notas de uso
The phrase is neutral to slightly formal. It is highly effective in written evaluations and professional contexts, but can be used casually with a touch of irony.
The 'Durch' Connection
Always try to follow the phrase with 'durch' (through) to explain *how* the person is standing out. It makes your German sound much more complete.
Don't Forget the 'Sich'
It's a reflexive verb! If you forget the 'sich', the sentence breaks. It's like saying 'I excel myself'—the 'myself' is mandatory.
The Irony Secret
Germans love using this phrase ironically. If someone is being lazy, you can say they 'hervortun themselves through laziness.' It's a very common dry humor tactic.
Ejemplos
7In Mathematik tut sie sich besonders hervor.
She excels particularly in mathematics.
Commonly used in academic contexts to describe top students.
Er hat sich durch seinen Fleiß im Team hervorgetan.
He distinguished himself in the team through his diligence.
A professional way to praise someone's work ethic.
Der Torwart tat sich im Elfmeterschießen hervor.
The goalkeeper stood out during the penalty shootout.
Used when someone performs exceptionally under pressure.
Er hat sich mal wieder am Buffet hervorgetan.
He stood out at the buffet once again.
A lighthearted way to say someone ate a lot.
In der Krise hat sie sich als wahre Anführerin hervorgetan.
In the crisis, she stood out as a true leader.
Highlights character and leadership qualities.
Du hast dich heute im Meeting echt hervorgetan, gut gemacht!
You really stood out in the meeting today, well done!
A supportive text to a peer.
Ich möchte mich in diesem Unternehmen durch innovative Ideen hervortun.
I want to distinguish myself in this company through innovative ideas.
Shows ambition and a focus on merit.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun for 'wir'.
Wir tun ___ durch unsere Teamarbeit hervor.
Reflexive verbs must match the subject; 'wir' requires 'uns'.
Choose the correct past participle form.
Er hat sich im letzten Projekt besonders ___.
The past participle of 'tun' is 'getan', so 'hervortun' becomes 'hervorgetan'.
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Ayudas visuales
Formality Spectrum of 'sich hervortun'
Used jokingly among friends about small achievements.
Du tust dich beim Kochen hervor!
Standard use in school, sports, or general conversation.
Sie tut sich in Sport hervor.
Professional reviews, resumes, and formal speeches.
Der Mitarbeiter tat sich durch Fachwissen hervor.
When to use 'sich hervortun'
Office
Leading a difficult project successfully.
Sports
Being the MVP of the game.
School
Getting the highest grade in class.
Social
Being the only one who can fix a broken car.
Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasIt means to distinguish yourself or stand out from a group due to a specific skill or achievement. For example: Er tut sich in Mathe hervor.
Yes, it is. You must always use the reflexive pronouns like mich, dich, or sich depending on the subject.
Absolutely! It is a professional and sophisticated way to describe your strengths. You could say: Ich tue mich durch Zuverlässigkeit hervor.
Auffallen just means to be noticed (positive or negative), while hervortun usually implies a positive achievement or skill.
Usually no, unless you are being ironic. For example: Er tat sich durch Unpünktlichkeit hervor (He stood out for being late).
You use the Perfekt tense: Er hat sich hervorgetan.
The preposition durch (through/by) is most common, followed by the trait that makes the person stand out.
Not at all. It is still widely used in journalism, sports, and professional environments.
No, it is almost exclusively used for people or groups of people who are acting intentionally.
It comes from hervor (forth/out) and tun (to do), literally meaning to 'do oneself forward' out of a crowd.
Glänzen (to shine) is similar but more about a brilliant performance, while hervortun is about the act of distinguishing oneself.
Just use the plural: Die Schüler tun sich durch ihr Engagement hervor.
Frases relacionadas
sich auszeichnen
to distinguish oneself
glänzen
to shine/excel
auffallen
to stand out/be noticed
überragen
to tower over/surpass others
brillieren
to excel brilliantly
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