German word

raten

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʁaːtən/

Meaning

  • verbadvise

Example

Sie rät ihm, mehr zu lernen.

She advises him to learn more.

Illustration for raten (advise)

More examples

Der Arzt rät mir, mehr Wasser zu trinken.

The doctor advises me to drink more water.

Core concept

A person weighs possibilities and gives an answer, either a recommended action or a guessed solution.

Common phrases

  • jemandem raten, etwas zu tun

    advise ___ to do something

  • jemandem raten, auf seine Gesundheit zu achten

    advise ___ to take care of their health

Similar words

empfehlen: Recommend an action or item believed to benefit someone.
vorschlagen: Present a specific plan as one possible option.
beraten: Provide specialist advice to someone during a consultation.

Definition in German

jemandem einen Rat geben oder empfehlen, wie er handeln soll; oft mit Dativobjekt der Person verbunden.

Word origin

Raten is an inherited Germanic verb related to German Rat and originally meant to advise or counsel, while the guessing sense developed from forming a judgment.

Usage tips

  • In the advice sense, raten takes the person advised in the dative, as in jemandem raten, etwas zu tun.

Other meanings

  • guessverb

Opposites

  • abratenadvise againstverb

Related words

  • der Ratadvicenoun
  • ratsamadvisableadjective

Word lists with this word