German word

irren

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈɪʁən/

Meaning

  • verbbe wrong

Example

Ich irre mich oft.

I am often wrong.

Illustration for irren (be wrong)

More examples

Bei diesem Thema kann man sich leicht irren.

On this topic, one can easily be mistaken.

Core concept

Someone follows the wrong direction and reaches a false conclusion.

Common phrases

  • sich irren

    be mistaken

  • sich in der Beurteilung irren

    be mistaken in one's assessment

Similar words

sich täuschen: To hold a mistaken belief about the facts.
verwechseln: To mistake one person or thing for another.
sich verirren: To lose the way and fail to reach the destination.

Definition in German

Eine falsche Annahme oder ein Fehlurteil haben; häufig reflexiv gebraucht, gelegentlich transitiv.

Word origin

The verb comes through Middle High German irren from Old High German irren, whose older sense involved going astray or being confused.

Usage tips

  • In the sense of being mistaken, irren normally appears with sich, while the nonreflexive verb is less common and can suggest wandering or straying.

Other meanings

  • make a mistakeverb
  • be mistakenverb

Opposites

  • recht behaltenbe rightverb
  • richtig liegenbe right in one's judgmentverb

Related words

  • Irrtumerrornoun
  • irrtümlicherroneousadjective
  • irreführenmisleadverb

Word lists with this word