In last week's lesson, we looked at compound nouns that employ the noun das Zeug. But it doesn't stop there. 

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In addition to dozens of nouns with the -zeug ending, there are others that use it as a root. One common noun is das Zeugnis, which can refer to a report, a (school) certificate, or a testament/testimony. 

Das ist beim Stand der Dinge heute das älteste authentische Zeugnis für Christentum.

This is, as things stand today, the oldest authentic testimony of Christianity.

Captions 39-40, Archäologie: Der Fund der Frankfurter Silberinschrift

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The word der Zeuge or die Zeugin means "the witness." 

Ja, ich habe eine Zeugin mitgebracht, Frau Vorsitzende.

Yes, I brought along a witness, your honor.

Caption 30, Yabla Gerichtshof: Probleme des Zusammenlebens

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Other words include das Erzeugnis ("the product"), der Erzeuger / die Erzeugerin ("the producer," "the creator," "the procreator"), and das Zeughaus ("the armory").

Verbs include zeugen and erzeugen. The verb zeugen is used to describe procreation, and also for testifying or bearing evidence in a formal or abstract sense. When it comes to bearing witness or testifying to something specific, the verb bezeugen may be used. The verb erzeugen, on the other hand, is used for the production, creation, or generation of something other than humans or animals. 

Wehranlagen zeugen von der kriegerischen Vergangenheit.

Fortifications testify to its war-torn past.

Caption 13, Die Alpen von oben S1 E1: Von den Karawanken nach Graz

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Ich möchte bezeugen, dass meine Schwester mich und meine kleinen Geschwister schlecht erzogen hat.

I would like to testify that my sister raised me and my little siblings badly.

Captions 7-8, Yabla Gerichtshof: Das verzogene Hündchen

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Das heißt, man erzeugt dabei keinen Ton.

That means when you make them, you don't produce any sort of tone.

Caption 9, Deutsch mit Eylin: Ich- und Ach-Laute

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Finally, let's look at two expressions with das Zeug: was das Zeug hält and ins Zeug legen. 

Trotz vollen Terminplänen und Stress strahlt die deutsch-amerikanische Sängerin, was das Zeug hält.

Despite the full agenda and the stress, the German-American singer beams as much as possible.

Captions 4-5, Cassandra Steen Geheimnis für positive Energie

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Das ist Ansporn für den Hahn, sich erst recht ins Zeug zu legen [Redewendung].

This is an incentive for the male grouse to really put in a lot of effort.

Caption 32, Die letzten Paradiese: Die Schönheit der Alpen 1

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Further Learning
Try looking for additional examples of the verbs in use on Yabla German and building your own sentences with these two expressions.