verb
to experience, to learn (about)
B1
erfahren: an irregular (strong) verb meaning 'to experience' or 'to learn (about)'. Uses haben as auxiliary. Stem changes in present: du erfährst, er erfährt; simple past erfuhr; past participle erfahren. When 'learn' use takes prepositions like von/über (ich habe davon erfahren). Non-separable.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Ich habe viel in meinem Leben erfahren.
I have experienced a lot in my life.
Ich habe gestern von dem Unfall erfahren.
I learned about the accident yesterday.
Er erfuhr die Wahrheit.
He learned the truth.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
picture a fair (Fair) full of new experiences — 'er-fair-hen' (experience)
sounds like 'air-far-en' — imagine taking a ride (fahren) through new experiences
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
erfahren can mean both 'to experience' (personal experience) and 'to find out/learn about' (receive information). Stem vowel changes in present (erfährst, erfährt) and the simple past is erfuhr.