German word

gedenken

Pronunciation

IPA/gəˈdɛŋkən/

Meaning

  • verbmourn

Example

Wir gedenken heute der Opfer.

We are mourning the victims today.

Illustration for gedenken (mourn)

More examples

Zum Volkstrauertag gedenken viele Menschen der Gefallenen.

On Volkstrauertag, many people mourn the fallen.

Core concept

A solemn act of holding a person, event, or future action deliberately in mind.

Common phrases

  • gedenken der Opfer

    mourn the victims

  • gedenken der Gefallenen

    mourn the fallen

  • gedenken der Toten

    mourn the dead

Similar words

erinnern: Remember people or events from the past to preserve their memory.
denken: Have a person or event in mind.
trauern: Grieve deeply because of a loss.
ehren: Give respectful recognition to a person or achievement.

Definition in German

Eine formelle Handlung, in der man ehrend an Verstorbene oder wichtige Ereignisse erinnert; häufig mit dem Genitiv konstruiert.

Word origin

The verb comes from Old High German forms related to ge- and denken, and developed from keeping something in mind to commemorating or intending.

Usage tips

  • In the commemorative sense, gedenken traditionally governs the genitive, as in der Opfer, while everyday German often uses an die Opfer denken.

Other meanings

  • commemorateverb
  • intendverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Gedenkencommemorationnoun
  • Gedenkstättememorial sitenoun
  • Gedenkfeiercommemorative ceremonynoun

Word lists with this word