- Erzählen is a German verb meaning "to tell" or "to narrate."
- It is used for expressing the act of relating stories, events, or information, often in detail.
- It covers both spoken and written forms of storytelling.
- The verb emphasizes the narrative or descriptive aspect of communication.
*Erzählen* focuses on narrating or telling stories.
Meaning and Usage
Erzählen is used when someone is recounting or narrating something, whether it’s a story, an event, or detailed information. It’s more about sharing or conveying a narrative than just stating facts.
- Core meaning: to tell, to narrate, to relate (a story, an event)
- Used for both oral and written narratives.
- Implies a sequence or development (not just a single fact).
Example:
- Wir erzählen eine Geschichte.
(We are telling a story.)
You would use 'erzählen' when telling a story or narrating an event.
Conjugation (Present Tense)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | ich erzähle | wir erzählen |
| 2nd | du erzählst | ihr erzählt |
| 3rd | er/sie/es erzählt | sie erzählen |
Note: Erzählen is a regular verb.
- ich erzähle — I tell/narrate
- du erzählst — you tell/narrate (informal)
- er/sie/es erzählt — he/she/it tells/narrates
- wir erzählen — we tell/narrate
- ihr erzählt — you all tell/narrate
- sie erzählen — they tell/narrate
Example:
- Du erzählst immer spannende Geschichten.
(You always tell exciting stories.)
Wir erzählen Geschichten.
Common Forms
- Infinitive: erzählen
- Past (Simple): erzählte / erzählten
- Past Participle: erzählt
Example Sentences:
- Ich erzähle dir etwas. (I’ll tell you something.)
- Sie erzählten von ihrer Reise. (They told about their trip.)
- Hast du die Geschichte erzählt? (Did you tell the story?)
The past forms are 'erzählte' (simple past) and 'erzählt' (past participle).
Usage Notes
- Erzählen often implies more than just giving information; it suggests you are sharing something in a story-like manner.
- For “to say” or “to tell” in a more factual way, sagen is used.
- If you want to say “to ask,” use fragen.
Context for erzähl...:
- You’d use erzählen instead of sagen when a teacher recounts a story, a friend shares what happened over the weekend, or a writer narrates a novel.
You would use 'erzählen' when a friend narrates their weekend.
Conclusion
Erzählen is a key verb for expressing the art of storytelling or narration in German, highlighting the sharing of experiences or events in a detailed, engaging way.
- Focus: Narrative, storytelling (oral/written).
- Regular verb: erzählen, erzählst, erzählt...
- Use for sharing stories/events, not just stating facts.
'erzählen' means to tell or narrate.
You use 'erzählen' when narrating a story or describing events in detail.