German word

erben

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈɛɐ̯bən/

Meaning

  • verbinherit

Example

Nach dem Tod seines Vaters erbte er das Haus.

After his father died, he inherited the house.

Illustration for erben (inherit)

More examples

Sie erbte ein Vermögen von ihrem Großvater.

She inherited a fortune from her grandfather.

Core concept

A deceased person's house, legal claim, or obligation passes to a new holder.

Common phrases

  • von seinem Vater erben

    inherit from his father

  • ein Vermögen erben

    inherit a fortune

Similar words

vererben: Leave property or rights to another person through a will or legal process.
annehmen: Formally accept an inheritance or gift.
ausschlagen: Renounce an inheritance and refuse to receive it.
antreten: Claim an inheritance and begin the process of receiving it.

Definition in German

Nach dem Tod einer Person Besitz, Rechte oder Pflichten von dieser Person erhalten

Word origin

The verb erben is an inherited Germanic word, recorded in Old High German as erben and closely related to the noun Erbe.

Usage tips

  • Erben takes the inherited property as an accusative object, while the previous owner appears with von plus the dative, as in von seinem Vater erben.

Opposites

  • ausschlagenrenounceverb

Related words

  • das Erbeinheritancenoun
  • die Erbschaftinheritancenoun
  • erblichhereditaryadjective

Word lists with this word