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erklären

explain

verb er-KLAY-ren Common
Communication Speech

Also means

declare

Usage Note

erklären means both 'explain' and formally 'declare', as in den Krieg erklären ('to declare war'). The er- prefix is inseparable, so the participle is erklärt. To explain something to someone uses the dative: jemandem etwas erklären.

Examples

"Kannst du mir das erklären?"

Natural Translation

Can you explain that to me?

Literal Translation

Can you me that explain?

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