German word

mahnen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈmaːnən/

Meaning

  • verburge

Example

Die Bank mahnt den Kunden zur Zahlung.

The bank is urging the customer to pay.

Illustration for mahnen (urge)

More examples

Sie mahnt ihn per SMS, die E-Mail zu beantworten.

The bank urges the customer to pay.

Core concept

A creditor or guardian keeps a duty in view and presses for action, sometimes by signaling the danger of delay.

Common phrases

  • per SMS mahnen

    urge ___ by SMS

  • telefonisch mahnen

    urge ___ by phone

  • dringend mahnen

    urgently urge ___

Similar words

bitten: Make a polite request for action or assistance.
erinnern: Give someone a reminder about something they might forget.
drängen: Urge someone strongly to act sooner or more quickly.

Definition in German

jemanden an eine ausstehende Pflicht, besonders an eine Zahlung, erinnern und ihn zur Erfüllung drängen; kann auch bedeuten, jemanden vor einem Fehlverhalten oder einer Gefahr zu warnen

Word origin

Mahnen is an inherited Germanic verb that developed through Old High German manōn and Middle High German manen, meaning to remind or warn.

Usage tips

  • The construction jemanden zu etwas mahnen takes zu with the requested action, as in jemanden zur Zahlung mahnen.

Other meanings

  • admonishverb
  • warnverb

Related words

  • Mahnungremindernoun
  • abmahnenformally warnverb

Word lists with this word