Translation of German word "erklären" to English
erklären
/ɛʁˈklɑːʁən/
Meaning
VerbTo make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
How to use
The weak verb erklären ('to explain / declare') has the non-separable prefix er- and conjugates regularly: ich erkläre, du erklärst, er erklärt, hat erklärt. It takes a dative for the person and an accusative for the topic (Er erklärt mir die Grammatik).
🇬🇧 English
to explain
Example
Sie erklärt mir, warum sie nicht kommen kann.
She explained to me why she cannot come.
Der Sachverhalt wurde dem Gouverneur ausführlich erläutert.
The matter was explained in detail to the governor.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- den Krieg erklären— to declare war
- die Liebe erklären— to declare / confess love
- genau erklären— to explain precisely / in detail
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "erklären"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich bin/habe erklärt
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #211 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "erklären"?▼
The German word "erklären" is defined as: "To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of."
What does the German word "erklären" mean?▼
The German word "erklären" means "to explain" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "erklären"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "erklären" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "erklären"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Man muss sich erklären, warum er nicht kommt." (which translates as "She explained to me why she cannot come.").
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