jemanden provozieren
Er versucht immer, seine Schwester zu provozieren.
He always tries to provoke his sister.
to deliberately say or do something to make someone angry or upset, often to elicit a reaction
Die Kinder provozieren sich gegenseitig, bis einer weint.
The children provoke each other until one of them cries.
Er provozierte den Lehrer, indem er absichtlich die Regeln brach.
He provoked the teacher by deliberately breaking the rules.
Often used in contexts where someone is trying to start an argument or conflict. Can be intentional or unintentional.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Context matters
The word 'provozieren' can sometimes imply harmless teasing, but in serious contexts (e.g., conflicts, legal matters), it suggests deliberate malice. Pay attention to tone and situation.
Gold Rule
Provoke vs. Annoy
'Provozieren' implies an intention to elicit a strong reaction, while 'ärgern' (to annoy) is more general. For example, 'Sie hat ihn provoziert' suggests she deliberately tried to make him angry.
Word Origin
The verb 'provozieren' comes from Latin 'provocare' (to call forth, challenge), which combines 'pro-' (forward) and 'vocare' (to call). The phrase 'jemanden provozieren' retains this sense of deliberately inciting a reaction.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. It implies an intentional act to elicit a strong emotional response, often negative. In legal contexts, it may refer to incitement (e.g., 'zum Aufruhr provozieren').