verb
bekennen
admit · confess
Sagen oder zeigen, was man wirklich denkt oder fühlt, oft offen und ehrlich.
Definition & meaning
bekennen means to confess, acknowledge or profess something openly.
- To admit a fault or wrongdoing: Er bekannte seine Schuld. — “He confessed his guilt.”
- To profess a belief, conviction or allegiance, usually with sich zu: Sie bekennt sich zum Christentum. — “She professes Christianity.”
- To acknowledge or stand by someone or something: Er bekennt sich zu seiner Verantwortung. — “He accepts responsibility.”
Grammar & Word origin
- Verb forms: bekennen – bekannte – bekannt; auxiliary: haben
- Reflexive construction: sich zu etwas bekennen takes the dative after zu.
- The prefix be- is inseparable. The verb is related to kennen (“to know”) and originally conveyed making something known.
Synonyms & antonyms
- gestehen — “to confess”; often emphasizes admitting wrongdoing.
- zugeben — “to admit”; more everyday and often less formal.
- verleugnen — “to deny” or “disown”; the opposite of openly acknowledging something.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Er bekennt sich zu seinem Fehler.verb
He admits to his mistake.
Er möchte seine Liebe bekennen.verb
He wants to confess his love.
Viele Menschen bekennen ihren Fehler offen.verb
Many people openly admit their mistake.
Manche bekennen sich zu ihrem Glauben.verb
Some confess to their faith.
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