sich irren
be mistaken · to be mistaken
Definition & meaning
The reflexive verb sich irren means "to be mistaken" or "to be wrong" about something. It describes the state of having a false belief, an incorrect assumption, or a flawed judgment regarding a fact or a situation.
- To be mistaken: Used when someone has a wrong perception of a situation (e.g., "Ich glaube, du irrst dich." - "I think you are mistaken.").
- To err: Used in a more general sense of making a mistake in judgment or calculation.
Grammar & Word origin
sich irren is a reflexive, weak verb. It is conjugated with the auxiliary verb "haben".
- Present: ich irre mich, du irrst dich, er/sie/es irrt sich...
- Past (Präteritum): ich irrte mich...
- Perfect: ich habe mich geirrt...
The word originates from the Middle High German irren, which stems from the Old High German irren. It is etymologically related to the word irrig (erroneous) and shares the same root as the English word "err". The core concept is moving away from the "right" path or becoming disoriented.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- sich täuschen (to deceive oneself, to be wrong)
- falschliegen (to be wrong/off track)
- im Irrtum sein (to be in error)
- sich verkalkulieren (to miscalculate)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Er gibt zu, dass er sich im Preis geirrt hat.other
He admits that he was mistaken about the price.
Du irrst dich, wenn du das glaubst.other
You are mistaken if you believe that.
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