From Middle High German *zeigen*, Old High German *zeigōn* ("to show, point out"), related to the noun *Zeiger* ("pointer, clock hand") and the adjective *eigen* ("own"). Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *taikijaną*, connected to English *teach* — both sharing the root sense of "making something visible or clear to another."

Germans use *zeigen* both literally (pointing at something) and figuratively: *Das zeigt sich* ("That becomes clear / That shows itself") is a very common set phrase in everyday speech. Note that *zeigen* can be reflexive — *sich zeigen* means "to appear" or "to prove to be," as in *Er zeigte sich großzügig* ("He showed himself to be generous"). Don't confuse with *schauen* or *sehen* (to look/see), which are about the viewer; *zeigen* is about the one doing the showing.