German word

ersparen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈʃpaːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbsave

Example

Das erspart mir Zeit.

It saves me time.

Illustration for ersparen (save)

More examples

Wer früh bucht, erspart sich viel Geld.

If you book early, you can save yourself a lot of money.

Core concept

A person is kept from having to pay, work, or undergo something unpleasant.

Common phrases

  • sich die Mühe ersparen

    save oneself the trouble

  • sich viel Geld ersparen

    save a lot of money

  • Kosten ersparen

    save costs

Similar words

sparen: Cut the amount of money or time spent on something.
entlasten: Relieve someone by taking away part of their burden or work.
vermeiden: Avoid an unwanted thing or situation before it occurs.
verzichten: Deliberately forgo something instead of having or doing it.

Definition in German

etwas oder jemandem ersparen bedeutet, Kosten, Mühen oder unangenehme Erfahrungen zu vermeiden, sodass die betroffene Person davon verschont bleibt.

Word origin

Ersparen combines the prefix er- with sparen, historically related to saving or sparing, and develops the sense of causing someone to be spared something.

Usage tips

  • The usual pattern is jemandem etwas ersparen, with the person in the dative and the avoided cost, effort, or experience in the accusative.

Other meanings

  • spareverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Ersparnissavingnoun
  • das Erspartesavingsnoun

Word lists with this word