eine Unterschrift leisten
To provide signature
Littéralement: to perform a signature
Use this phrase for official contracts or bank documents to sound professional and legally precise.
En 15 secondes
- A formal way to say 'to sign' a document.
- Used in banks, offices, and legal contracts.
- Combines the noun 'Unterschrift' with the formal verb 'leisten'.
Signification
This phrase is a more formal, slightly bureaucratic way of saying 'to sign something.' Instead of just signing, you are 'performing' or 'rendering' the act of signing a document.
Exemples clés
3 sur 7At the bank opening an account
Bitte leisten Sie hier unten Ihre Unterschrift.
Please provide your signature here at the bottom.
Signing a work contract
Nachdem ich den Vertrag gelesen hatte, leistete ich meine Unterschrift.
After I had read the contract, I provided my signature.
Buying a new car
Der Kauf ist erst gültig, wenn Sie die Unterschrift leisten.
The purchase is only valid once you provide the signature.
Contexte culturel
In Germany, the 'Schriftform' (written form) is often legally required for contracts to be valid. This phrase highlights the formal 'performance' of signing, reflecting a culture that values documentation, legal certainty, and official procedures. It stems from a long tradition of administrative precision where every official act has a specific, elevated term.
The 'Leisten' Secret
The verb 'leisten' usually implies effort or achievement (like 'Leistung' - performance). Using it for a signature makes the act feel like a significant contribution.
Don't Overdo It
If you use this with your friends, they might think you've spent too much time at the tax office. Stick to 'unterschreiben' for daily life.
En 15 secondes
- A formal way to say 'to sign' a document.
- Used in banks, offices, and legal contracts.
- Combines the noun 'Unterschrift' with the formal verb 'leisten'.
What It Means
In German, sometimes simple verbs like unterschreiben (to sign) aren't enough for official business. Enter eine Unterschrift leisten. This is what's known as a 'Funktionsverbgefüge.' It sounds fancy because it is. You aren't just scribbling your name. You are officially confirming a document with your signature. It carries more weight and gravity than the simple verb. It feels like the document you are signing is actually important.
How To Use It
You use this phrase just like a regular verb-object combo. The verb leisten (to perform/render) changes based on the person. For example, Ich leiste eine Unterschrift. However, you usually see it in the context of what you are signing. You might say unter den Vertrag (under the contract). It’s common in legal, financial, and administrative settings. If you’re at the bank, they won’t just ask for a signature. They’ll ask you to 'leisten' one. It makes the whole process feel very official.
When To Use It
Use this when the stakes are high. Think about buying a house or starting a new job. It fits perfectly at the notary's office. Use it when you want to sound professional in an email. If you are writing to a landlord, use this phrase. It shows you understand the formal nature of the agreement. It’s also great for insurance documents or bank forms. Basically, if there is a stamp or a suit involved, use this phrase.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for casual things. If your friend asks you to sign a birthday card, keep it simple. Using eine Unterschrift leisten there would sound hilarious. It’s like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard BBQ. Avoid it when signing for a package at the door. The delivery driver just wants you to unterschreiben. Also, don't use it for autographs. If you meet a celebrity, don't ask them to 'leisten' a signature. That’s way too stiff for a fan moment.
Cultural Background
Germany is famous for its love of paperwork and 'Bürokratie.' A signature is a sacred thing in German administration. Digital signatures are growing, but the 'wet ink' signature still reigns supreme. This phrase reflects the respect Germans have for formal processes. It turns a simple physical act into a legal performance. It dates back to a time when signing your name was a significant life event. Even today, the act of 'leisting' a signature feels like a rite of passage.
Common Variations
You might hear seine Unterschrift unter etwas setzen. This means 'to put one's signature under something.' It is slightly less formal but still very professional. Another one is die Unterschrift verweigern. This means to refuse to sign. If you see eigenhändige Unterschrift, that means it must be done by your own hand. No stamps allowed! These variations all circle back to the importance of that final ink stroke.
Notes d'usage
This is a high-register collocation. It is almost exclusively found in written formal German or spoken by professionals in administrative roles. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless you are being intentionally ironic.
The 'Leisten' Secret
The verb 'leisten' usually implies effort or achievement (like 'Leistung' - performance). Using it for a signature makes the act feel like a significant contribution.
Don't Overdo It
If you use this with your friends, they might think you've spent too much time at the tax office. Stick to 'unterschreiben' for daily life.
Blue or Black Ink?
In German offices, it is often preferred to sign in blue ink so that the original can be easily distinguished from a black-and-white photocopy.
Exemples
7Bitte leisten Sie hier unten Ihre Unterschrift.
Please provide your signature here at the bottom.
Standard formal request from a bank clerk.
Nachdem ich den Vertrag gelesen hatte, leistete ich meine Unterschrift.
After I had read the contract, I provided my signature.
Describes the formal completion of a job agreement.
Der Kauf ist erst gültig, wenn Sie die Unterschrift leisten.
The purchase is only valid once you provide the signature.
Emphasizes the legal necessity of the signature.
Ich habe gerade die Unterschrift beim Notar geleistet!
I just provided the signature at the notary's office!
Used here to emphasize the importance of the big life event.
Muss ich für diese Pizza wirklich eine Unterschrift leisten?
Do I really have to provide a signature for this pizza?
Using a formal phrase for a trivial delivery is funny.
Ich werde die Unterschrift morgen leisten und Ihnen das Dokument senden.
I will provide the signature tomorrow and send you the document.
Shows the tenant takes the lease seriously.
Er weigerte sich, die Unterschrift unter das Geständnis zu leisten.
He refused to provide the signature on the confession.
Serious legal or dramatic context.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the formal sentence.
Könnten Sie bitte die Unterschrift auf der letzten Seite ___?
While 'machen' is understood, 'leisten' is the correct formal collocation for signatures in German.
Complete the sentence about a past event.
Gestern habe ich meine Unterschrift unter den Mietvertrag ___.
The past participle of 'leisten' is 'geleistet'.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Ways to say 'Sign' in German
Signing a card or quick note
unterschreiben
Standard business signing
seine Unterschrift setzen
Legal/Official documents
eine Unterschrift leisten
Where to 'leisten' a signature
Bank
Opening a savings account
Notary
Buying property
HR Office
Starting a new job
Registry Office
Getting married
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNeither is 'better,' but they have different vibes. Unterschreiben is the neutral verb for everyone, while eine Unterschrift leisten is for formal, official documents.
Yes, you can. Even if you are clicking a button or using a stylus, the legal act is still described as eine Unterschrift leisten in formal terms.
On its own, leisten means to achieve, perform, or afford. In this phrase, it loses its individual meaning and just supports the noun Unterschrift.
Yes, it is standard formal German used across all German-speaking countries in legal and administrative contexts.
No, that doesn't work. The collocation is specifically fixed as eine Unterschrift leisten.
You would say: Ich benötige noch Ihre Unterschrift or more actively, Darf ich Sie bitten, die Unterschrift zu leisten?
The opposite would be die Unterschrift verweigern (to refuse to sign) or simply not signing.
Yes, but mostly by officials, lawyers, or bank employees. You'll hear it more than you'll say it unless you work in those fields.
Not in the right context. In a bank, it sounds professional. In a kitchen while signing a grocery list, it sounds very arrogant or sarcastic.
You could, but usually people say sich in eine Liste eintragen or unterschreiben. Leisten might be a bit too heavy for a casual petition.
Expressions liées
seine Unterschrift unter etwas setzen
To put one's signature under something (semi-formal)
etwas beglaubigen lassen
To have something notarized/certified
rechtskräftig unterschreiben
To sign with legal validity
paraphieren
To initial a document (signing with just initials)
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