How do you say “remember” in German? In the German language, the word “remember” is translated as “erinnern.” This word is commonly used in various contexts, from casual conversations to formal written communications. Whether you’re trying to convey a simple reminder or a heartfelt sentiment, knowing how to say “erinnern” in German can be a valuable addition to your linguistic repertoire.
In German, “erinnern” is a verb that belongs to the first conjugation group. This means that its past tense, present perfect, and future perfect forms are derived from the basic form of the verb. To use “erinnern” correctly, it’s important to understand its conjugation and how to apply it in different situations.
For example, if you want to say “I remember” in German, you would say “Ich erinnere mich.” This sentence structure is quite similar to English, as the subject “I” comes before the verb “erinnere.” However, it’s worth noting that the German verb “erinnern” changes its ending from “ern” to “erinnere” when conjugated for the first person singular present tense.
On the other hand, if you want to say “You remember” (informal), you would say “Du erinnerst dich.” The subject “you” is represented by “Du” in German, and the verb “erinnern” is conjugated to “erinnerst” to match the informal second person singular present tense.
In a formal context, you would say “Sie erinnern sich,” where “Sie” is the formal address for “you.” The verb “erinnern” is conjugated to “erinnern” in this case, as it is in the formal second person singular present tense.
When using “erinnern” in the past tense, such as “I remembered,” you would say “Ich erinnerte mich.” The past participle “erinnert” is used here, and the sentence structure remains the same as in the present tense.
In addition to the present and past tenses, “erinnern” can also be used in other tenses, such as the future tense (“I will remember” translates to “Ich werde mich erinnern”) and the perfect tense (“I have remembered” translates to “Ich habe mich erinnert”).
In conclusion, knowing how to say “erinnern” in German is essential for effectively communicating the concept of “remember” in various contexts. Whether you’re speaking casually or formally, understanding the conjugation and usage of this verb will help you express yourself more confidently in German.
