B2-52 · Separate claims, assumptions and facts
Fake news
Use angeblich for someone else's claim, vermutlich and wohl for your own assumption, and nachweislich once a fact is checked.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Report a claim with angeblich
Angeblich means allegedly: someone else claims something, and you do not vouch for it. It is a quick way to keep your distance from a rumour or a viral post. As an adverb it stays unchanged; before a noun it takes normal adjective endings.
Angeblich wurde das Video gestern in Neustadt aufgenommen.
The video was allegedly recorded in Neustadt yesterday.
Der Beitrag enthält angeblich geheime Dokumente.
The post allegedly contains secret documents.
Die angebliche Expertin hat keine Quelle genannt.
The alleged expert did not name a source.
Das Foto zeigt angeblich eine überflutete Straße.
The photo allegedly shows a flooded street.
In a main clause, angeblich usually follows the conjugated verb: Das Foto zeigt angeblich ... . Die angebliche Expertin means the alleged expert. All posts and places in this lesson are invented.
02
Make your own assumption with vermutlich and wohl
Vermutlich means presumably: it is your own careful estimate, not someone else's claim. Wohl also marks an assumption and is very common in speech, often together with Futur I: Die Zahl wird wohl falsch sein. Both soften a statement that you have not checked yet.
| Meaning | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| allegedly: someone else claims it | angeblich | Das Foto ist angeblich echt. |
| presumably: my own estimate | vermutlich | Das Foto ist vermutlich alt. |
| probably: my assumption, often spoken | wohl | Das Foto wird wohl alt sein. |
| demonstrably: checked and proven | nachweislich | Das Foto ist nachweislich bearbeitet. |
Das Bild ist vermutlich mehrere Jahre alt.
The picture is presumably several years old.
Hinter dem Beitrag steckt wohl ein anonymes Konto.
There is probably an anonymous account behind the post.
Der Text wurde vermutlich automatisch übersetzt.
The text was presumably translated automatically.
Die Zahl wird wohl falsch sein.
The figure is probably wrong.
Die Falschinformation means false information and das Gerücht rumour. Wohl + Futur I does not refer to the future here; it expresses an assumption about now. Compare angeblich, which always points to another source.
03
Write up a fact-check
A fact-check separates what is claimed, what is assumed and what is proven. Fact-checkers often use these words as adjectives before a noun: die angebliche Quelle, der vermutliche Urheber. Once a claim is checked, nachweislich replaces the softer words.
Das Team hat die angebliche Quelle überprüft.
The team checked the alleged source.
Der vermutliche Urheber der Falschmeldung ist ein gefälschtes Konto.
The presumed originator of the false report is a fake account.
Der Faktencheck zeigt, dass die Zahl nachweislich falsch ist.
The fact-check shows that the figure is demonstrably wrong.
Bevor man eine Meldung teilt, sollte man die Quelle prüfen.
Before sharing a report, you should check the source.
Der Faktencheck means fact-check, der Urheber originator and die Falschmeldung false report. In a dass-clause, the adverb stays before the predicate and the verb goes to the end: dass die Zahl nachweislich falsch ist.
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Check what you remember with 12 short questions.
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