German word

empfehlen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛmˈpfeːlən/

Meaning

  • verbrecommend

Example

Ich empfehle dir dieses Buch.

I recommend this book to you.

Illustration for empfehlen (recommend)

More examples

Ich kann dir dieses Restaurant empfehlen.

I can recommend this restaurant to you.

Core concept

A trusted guide places a useful choice in someone else's hands and points that person toward it.

Common phrases

  • jemandem etwas empfehlen

    recommend something to someone

  • ein Restaurant empfehlen

    recommend a restaurant

Similar words

raten: Advise someone to take a particular action.
vorschlagen: Put forward an idea or course of action for consideration.
anraten: Strongly advise someone to take a particular action.

Definition in German

jemandem etwas als gut oder nützlich vorschlagen; jemandem raten, etwas zu tun oder zu benutzen.

Word origin

Empfehlen developed from Old High German enpfehan and Middle High German enphel(e)n, originally expressing entrusting something to someone before acquiring its recommending sense.

Usage tips

  • The person receiving the recommendation is in the dative and the recommended thing is in the accusative, as in "Ich empfehle dir dieses Buch."

Other meanings

  • suggestverb
  • adviseverb

Opposites

  • abratenadvise againstverb
  • entmutigendiscourageverb

Related words

  • Empfehlungrecommendationnoun
  • empfehlenswertrecommendedadjective

Word lists with this word