verb

berichten

report

Etwas erzählen oder mitteilen, was passiert ist.

Definition & meaning

berichten means to report, inform, or recount. It usually describes conveying information or telling someone about events, facts, or experiences.

To report: The journalist reported on the election.
To inform or tell someone about something: She told her colleagues about the meeting.
To recount events: He recounted what had happened.

Grammar & word origin

berichten is a regular, separable-prefix-free verb.

Present: berichtet
Simple past: berichtete
Past participle: berichtet
Perfect tense: hat berichtet

Common grammatical patterns include über + accusative when reporting on a topic, and jemandem von + dative when telling someone about something. The verb is formed from Bericht (“report”) and the verb ending -en.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms differ slightly in emphasis:

erzählen means “to tell” or “to narrate”; it is often more conversational and does not necessarily imply a factual report.
melden means “to report” or “to notify,” often briefly or in an official context.
informieren emphasizes giving someone information.
schildern means “to describe” or “to recount,” often with more detail.