German Conversation · Level 182
30 words
German word
erahnen
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈaːnən/
Meaning
- verbsense
Example
Ich erahnte, dass etwas nicht stimmte.
I sensed that something was wrong.
More examples
Sie erahnte seine Absicht, bevor er sie offen aussprach.
She sensed his intention before he openly stated it.
Core concept
A barely visible sign makes a possible future event take shape in the mind.
Common phrases
etwas erahnen
sense something
Gefahr erahnen
sense danger
seine Absicht erahnen
sense his intention
Similar words
vermuten: To reach a likely conclusion from circumstances or limited information.
ahnen: To sense an approaching event vaguely through instinct or a premonition.
spüren: To register a slight sensation or sign in the body or through intuition.
wahrnehmen: To detect the presence of something or a change through the senses or attention.
Definition in German
Ohne klare Belege innerlich etwas als bevorstehend oder wahrscheinlich empfinden.
Word origin
Erahnen is formed with the inseparable prefix er- from ahnen, a verb documented in Middle High German as anen with the sense of sensing something vaguely.
Usage tips
- Erahnen takes an accusative object, as in etwas erahnen, and commonly introduces a fuller thought with dass.