verb
to advise
A2
Means 'to advise' or 'counsel'. Commonly transitive: jemanden beraten = to advise someone. Also reflexive (sich beraten) meaning 'to consult' or 'deliberate together'. Mixed irregular verb: stem e->ä in du/er (du berätst, er berät); preterite beriet; perfect with haben (hat beraten).
Examples
Die Bankberaterin beriet die Kundinnen und Kunden, damit sie eine sichere Anlage wählen konnten.
The bank advisor advised the customers so that they could choose a secure investment.
Er beriet seine Kunden.
He advised his clients.
Ich habe mich beraten lassen.
I sought advice.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a consultant sitting at a table advising a client with a 'BERATEN' sign.
Sounds like 'bear-aten' — imagine a bear giving advice at a table.
Notes
Can be used both transitively (jemanden beraten = to advise someone) and reflexively (sich beraten = to consult among themselves). Note: Conjugation values do not include personal pronouns. The formal imperative (Sie) necessarily requires the pronoun 'Sie' in German, but pronouns are not allowed in these conjugation values, so the 'Sie' imperative is marked as 'not applicable'. Also: Konjunktiv I in the simple past (Präteritum) is not standard and has been marked as 'not applicable' where present.