sich erinnern
To remember
Littéralement: To remind oneself
Use `sich erinnern an` whenever you are consciously pulling a memory from your past into the present.
En 15 secondes
- Used for recalling past events, people, or specific information.
- Requires a reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'an' plus accusative.
- Do not use it for memorizing facts or reminding others.
Signification
This phrase is how you say you're bringing a memory back to mind. It’s like telling your brain to go find a specific file in its cabinet and show it to you again.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Chatting with an old school friend
Erinnerst du dich an unseren Lehrer?
Do you remember our teacher?
Trying to recall a movie title
Ich erinnere mich nicht an den Namen des Films.
I don't remember the name of the movie.
In a professional business meeting
Wir erinnern uns an die Abmachung vom letzten Mal.
We remember the agreement from last time.
Contexte culturel
In Germany, 'Erinnerungskultur' (culture of remembrance) is a significant national concept, primarily focusing on learning from 20th-century history. On a personal level, the phrase is the gateway to 'Nostalgie,' which Germans enjoy during long evenings at a 'Stammtisch' or family gatherings.
The 'An' Rule
Always pair this verb with 'an'. Without it, the sentence feels like a table missing a leg. Just memorize 'sich erinnern an' as one single unit.
Don't forget the 'sich'
If you forget 'sich', you are reminding someone else. 'Ich erinnere dich' means 'I am reminding you.' 'Ich erinnere mich' means 'I remember.'
En 15 secondes
- Used for recalling past events, people, or specific information.
- Requires a reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'an' plus accusative.
- Do not use it for memorizing facts or reminding others.
What It Means
sich erinnern is the bread and butter of German memory. It is a reflexive verb. This means you are technically 'reminding yourself' of something. It covers everything from remembering a face to recalling a specific event. It is active and conscious. You are reaching back into your past.
How To Use It
This phrase has a specific 'grammar tax' you must pay. You always need the reflexive pronoun like mich, dich, or sich. Then, you almost always need the word an. After an, you use the accusative case. For example: Ich erinnere mich an dich. It sounds complex at first. Just think of it as a three-part puzzle. You, the action, and the target.
When To Use It
Use this when you are reminiscing with friends. It is perfect for those 'Do you remember when...' moments. Use it in meetings to recall a previous decision. It works when you finally remember where you left your keys. It is great for talking about your childhood. If a memory is involved, this is your go-to verb.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for 'memorizing' something new. If you are studying for a test, use lernen. If you want to say 'remind someone else,' use erinnern without the sich. Also, don't confuse it with merken. Merken is more about noticing or retaining info. sich erinnern is about looking back.
Cultural Background
Germans value 'Erinnerungskultur' or the culture of remembrance. This usually refers to historical awareness and learning from the past. On a personal level, Germans love a good 'Weißt du noch?' (Do you still know?) session. Sharing memories is a key way to build 'Gemütlichkeit' or coziness. It shows you value the shared time.
Common Variations
The noun form is die Erinnerung. You will hear people say Ich habe gute Erinnerungen daran. This means 'I have good memories of that.' You might also hear sich zurückerinnern. This adds a bit more 'looking back' flavor to the action. It feels a bit more nostalgic and deep.
Notes d'usage
This is a neutral, versatile phrase suitable for all levels of formality. The key difficulty for learners is remembering both the reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'an'.
The 'An' Rule
Always pair this verb with 'an'. Without it, the sentence feels like a table missing a leg. Just memorize 'sich erinnern an' as one single unit.
Don't forget the 'sich'
If you forget 'sich', you are reminding someone else. 'Ich erinnere dich' means 'I am reminding you.' 'Ich erinnere mich' means 'I remember.'
The 'Weißt du noch?' Shortcut
In very casual German, people often skip the whole verb and just say 'Weißt du noch?' (Do you still know?). It's the ultimate conversational starter for old stories.
Exemples
6Erinnerst du dich an unseren Lehrer?
Do you remember our teacher?
A classic way to start a nostalgic conversation.
Ich erinnere mich nicht an den Namen des Films.
I don't remember the name of the movie.
Common everyday usage when your brain blanks out.
Wir erinnern uns an die Abmachung vom letzten Mal.
We remember the agreement from last time.
Used to keep everyone accountable for previous decisions.
Erinnerst du dich noch an unser erstes Date?
Do you still remember our first date?
The 'noch' adds a sweet, checking-in emphasis.
Ich erinnere mich an absolut gar nichts!
I remember absolutely nothing at all!
Hyperbolic use often related to having too much fun.
Ich erinnere mich gern an den Sommer bei Oma.
I like remembering the summer at grandma's.
Using 'gern' shows the memory brings joy.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing reflexive pronoun and preposition.
Ich erinnere ___ ___ den Urlaub.
Since the subject is 'Ich', the reflexive pronoun must be 'mich', and 'erinnern' always pairs with 'an'.
Choose the correct ending for the noun after 'an'.
Erinnerst du dich an dein___ Bruder?
The preposition 'an' takes the accusative here. 'Bruder' is masculine, so 'dein' becomes 'deinen'.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Spectrum of 'sich erinnern'
Talking to friends about last night.
Weißt du noch?
Standard way to say 'I remember'.
Ich erinnere mich an ihn.
Official statements or literature.
Man erinnere sich an die Fakten.
When to reach for 'sich erinnern'
Childhood
Remembering your first bike.
Meetings
Recalling a project deadline.
Lost Items
Remembering where you parked.
Reunions
Recognizing an old classmate.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt means 'to remember' or 'to recall.' It is used when a piece of information or a memory comes back to your conscious mind, like Ich erinnere mich an den Namen.
Yes, merken is about noticing something or 'memorizing' it for the short term. sich erinnern is about retrieving something that is already in your long-term memory.
Absolutely. It is a neutral phrase. You could write, Ich erinnere mich an unser Gespräch vom Montag to refer back to a previous discussion.
Almost always when you remember a specific thing or person. If you just say 'I remember,' you can say Ich erinnere mich, but usually, you add an + the object.
It takes the accusative case. So you would say an den Mann (masculine) or an die Frau (feminine).
You use the 'da-compound' version: Ich erinnere mich daran. The daran stands in for the thing you are remembering.
In slang or very casual speech, people often just use wissen (to know). For example: Weißt du noch, als wir... (Do you still know/remember when we...).
No, for that you drop the 'sich'. You would say Erinnere mich bitte an den Termin (Please remind me of the appointment).
English speakers often forget the reflexive pronoun mich. They try to say Ich erinnere an... which actually means 'I am reminding [someone] of...'
No, for that you should use auswendig lernen. sich erinnern is only for things that are already in your head.
Expressions liées
sich etwas merken
auswendig lernen
jemanden erinnern an
die Erinnerung
behalten
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