otherother
die Erfahrung
experience
Definition & meaning
Die Erfahrung has two closely related meanings:
-
Knowledge or skill gained over time, especially through practice or direct involvement.
Example: Sie hat viel Erfahrung im Umgang mit Kunden. — “She has a lot of experience dealing with customers.” -
An event or situation that someone lives through, particularly one that leaves an impression or teaches them something.
Example: Die Reise war eine unvergessliche Erfahrung. — “The trip was an unforgettable experience.”
Grammar & Word origin
- Gender: feminine — die Erfahrung
- Plural: die Erfahrungen
- Word formation: derived from the verb , meaning “to learn,” “to find out,” or “to experience.” Historically, the verb is connected with , “to travel” or “to go.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- — usually refers to a particular event or episode someone experiences; it does not necessarily imply that they gained knowledge or skill.
- — means “knowledge” or “familiarity”; it emphasizes what someone knows rather than what they have learned through firsthand involvement.
- — means practical work or hands-on application; it often contrasts with theory rather than referring to experience in general.
Antonyms:
- — “inexperience”; the clearest antonym when Erfahrung means knowledge or skill gained over time.
- — “lack of knowledge”; relevant when Erfahrung refers to familiarity with a subject, though it does not cover the sense of a lived event.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Sie hat viel Erfahrung in ihrem Beruf.other
She has a lot of experience in her job.
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