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empfehlen

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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German

Etymology

From Middle High German enpfelhen, enphelhen, entfelhen, intfelhen, from Old High German intfelhan, intfelahan, from int- +‎ felhan (“to preserve; entrust; confide in; surrender”), with assimilation before f- (see emp-).

Related to German befehlen (“command, order”), but not fehlen (“to be missing”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʔɛmˈpfeːlən/
  • Audio (Germany (Berlin)):(file)
  • Hyphenation: emp‧feh‧len

Verb

empfehlen (class 4 strong, third-person singular present empfiehlt, past tense empfahl, past participle empfohlen, past subjunctive empfähle or empföhle, auxiliary haben)

  1. to propose, to advise in favor of
    1. (transitive) to recommend; to advocate [with dative ‘someone’ and accusative ‘someone/something’]
    2. (reflexive) to demonstrate one’s merits, to approve oneself
      Aufgrund ihrer bisherigen Arbeit empfiehlt sich die Fachkraft für die Beförderung.
      In view of their previous work, the specialist merits the promotion.
    3. (transitive, dative reflexive) to demonstrate one’s merits to (someone or something), to approve oneself to (someone or something)
      Aufgrund ihrer bisherigen Arbeit empfiehlt sich die Fachkraft dem Unternehmen.
      Their previous work shows the specialist to be a worthy candidate for the company.
      sich Gott empfehlen ― to approve oneself to god
    4. (reflexive) to offer oneself or one’s services
  2. (transitive) to commend
    Lügner empfehlen keine Prüfung.
    Liars invite no scrutiny.
  3. (transitive, formal) to entrust [with accusative ‘someone/something’ and dative ‘to someone/something’]
    sein Kind der Fürsorge eines Fremden empfehlen ― to entrust one’s child to a stranger’s care
  4. (reflexive, dated, formal) to take one's leave
    Synonym: verabschieden
    • 1924, Thomas Mann, Der Zauberberg [The Magic Mountain], volume 1, Berlin: S. Fischer, page 135:
      „Er ist natürlich scharf geladen“, fuhr Herr Albin fort. […] „Ich halte ihn in Bereitschaft für den Tag, wo mir dieser Trödel hier zu langweilig wird und wo ich die Ehre haben werde, mich ergebenst zu empfehlen.
      “Of course it’s loaded,” continued Mr. Albin. […] “I keep it at the ready for the day this useless stuff here gets too boring for me and I have the honor of humbly taking my leave.”

Conjugation

Conjugation of empfehlen (class 4 strong, auxiliary haben)
More information infinitive, present participle ...

1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.

Composed forms of empfehlen (class 4 strong, auxiliary haben)
More information perfect, singular ...

Derived terms

Further reading

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