German word

bewundern

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈvʊndɐn/

Meaning

  • verbadmire

Example

Ich bewundere seine Arbeit.

I admire his work.

Illustration for bewundern (admire)

More examples

Ich bewundere seine Standhaftigkeit.

I admire his steadfastness.

Core concept

A person pauses before an exceptional achievement, feeling wonder and respect together.

Common phrases

  • jemanden bewundern

    admire someone

  • etwas bewundern

    admire something

  • jemanden für etwas bewundern

    admire someone for something

Similar words

schätzen: Recognize and value someone's positive qualities or contribution.
respektieren: Show regard for someone by honoring their dignity, standards, or boundaries.

Definition in German

jemanden oder etwas wegen besonderer Eigenschaften oder Leistungen mit Staunen und Respekt betrachten und loben

Word origin

German bewundern combines the prefix be- with older wundern, 'to wonder', and developed the sense of regarding someone or something with admiration.

Usage tips

  • Bewundern takes a direct accusative object, as in Ich bewundere seine Arbeit, rather than a dative object or a von phrase.

Other meanings

  • marvel atverb

Opposites

  • verachtendespiseverb
  • geringschätzenlook down onverb

Related words

  • Bewunderungadmirationnoun
  • bewundernswertadmirableadjective

Word lists with this word