adjective

erklärt

explained · explain

Zeigt, wie etwas funktioniert oder warum etwas so ist, damit man es gut verstehen kann.

Definition & meaning

The word "erklärt" is the past participle of the verb "erklären". It has two primary meanings depending on the context:

To explain / To clarify: It describes the act of making something clear, understandable, or providing information to resolve a misunderstanding. For example: "Er hat das Problem erklärt" (He has explained the problem).
To declare / To announce: It is used to state something officially or formally. For example: "Sie haben den Frieden erklärt" (They have declared peace) or "Er wurde für schuldig erklärt" (He was declared guilty).

In addition, as an adjective, "erklärt" can mean "avowed" or "declared," such as in the phrase "ein erklärter Feind" (an avowed enemy), meaning someone who openly admits to their position or affiliation.

Grammar & Word origin

"Erklärt" is the Partizip II (past participle) of the strong verb erklären.

Prefix: "er-" (often denotes the successful completion of an action or the reaching of a result).
Root: "klar" (clear).
Suffix: "-t" (standard ending for the past participle of weak verbs).

Grammatically, it functions as the core component of perfect tenses (e.g., "hat erklärt") or as a passive voice construction. When used as an adjective, it follows standard German declension rules based on the gender and case of the noun it modifies.