German Conversation · Level 140
30 words
German word
erblicken
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈblɪkən/
Meaning
- verbsee
Example
Im Garten erblickte sie plötzlich eine bunte Blume.
In the garden, she suddenly saw a colorful flower.
More examples
Im Wald erblickte er plötzlich einen Hirsch.
In the forest, he suddenly saw a deer.
Core concept
The eyes catch sight of a person or thing as it suddenly comes into view.
Common phrases
erblicken etwas
see something
erblicken jemanden
see someone
erblicken den Horizont
see the horizon
Similar words
sehen: Perceive a person, thing, or scene with the eyes.
entdecken: Find something that had not been noticed before.
bemerken: Become aware of something by seeing or hearing it.
anschauen: View something with deliberate and sustained attention.
Definition in German
jemanden oder etwas plötzlich mit den Augen wahrnehmen
Word origin
Erblicken combines the inseparable prefix er- with blicken, meaning to look or gaze, and er- gives the verb a resultative sense.
Usage tips
- Erblicken is more literary or formal than sehen and often presents the act of catching sight of something as a vivid moment.