verb
to recover, to rest
B1
Erholen: mainly to recover and to rest. It’s typically used reflexively (sich erholen) and takes haben in compound tenses: hat sich erholt. Weak regular verb, non-separable. Participles: erholt (Perfekt), erholend (present participle). Used for recuperation after illness or rest during free time.
Examples
Sie hat sich gut erholt.
She has recovered well.
Ich erhole mich im Urlaub.
I relax on vacation.
Am Wochenende erhole ich mich gerne im Garten.
On weekends I like to rest in the garden.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone lying in a hammock and slowly getting better — they 'erholen' there
sounds like 'a-HAW-len' → 'a-ha!' you feel better: erholen
Notes
Commonly used reflexively (sich erholen). Means to recover (health) or to rest. Uses auxiliary 'haben' in perfect: 'hat sich erholt'. Passive forms are not applicable because the verb is intransitive/reflexive and does not form a normal passive.