German word

erteilen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈtaɪ̯lən/

Meaning

  • verbgrant

Example

Der Direktor erteilt dem Team die Erlaubnis.

The director grants the team permission.

Illustration for erteilen (grant)

More examples

Die Mutter erteilt dem Kind die Erlaubnis, im Garten zu spielen.

The mother grants the child permission to play in the garden.

Core concept

A person with authority passes an approved document, command, or commission from an institution to someone responsible for receiving it.

Common phrases

  • erteilt jemandem die Erlaubnis

    grant someone permission

  • erteilt dem Kind die Erlaubnis

    grant the child permission

Similar words

erlauben: Tell someone they may do something in ordinary conversation.
zulassen: Accept an action or condition without taking steps to prevent it.
genehmigen: Approve a document or plan through an official process.
gestatten: Allow something with notably polite wording.

Definition in German

etwas offiziell an eine Person übergeben oder ausstellen, besonders Erlaubnis, Auftrag oder Befehl

Word origin

The verb comes from German er- plus teilen, whose Old High German ancestor teilōn meant 'to divide or share', with the meaning later specializing in official allocation or delivery.

Usage tips

  • The recipient normally appears in the dative and the item in the accusative, as in jemandem die Erlaubnis erteilen.

Other meanings

  • issueverb
  • placeverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word