verb
to catch a cold
B1
Erkälten: means 'to catch a cold'. Usually reflexive (sich erkälten) and forms the perfect with haben: hat sich erkältet. Weak regular verb, non-separable. Participles: erkältet (Perfekt). Commonly used for becoming sick with a cold; Present 3rd person: erkältet sich.
Examples
Ich habe mich erkältet.
I've caught a cold.
Ich erkälte mich leicht.
I catch colds easily.
Ich habe mich letzte Woche erkältet.
I caught a cold last week.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone shivering under a blanket after getting wet in the rain.
Sounds like 'air-cold-ten' — associate with getting cold.
Notes
Commonly used reflexively (sich erkälten). Use 'erkältet' as past participle in perfect tenses: 'Ich habe mich erkältet.' Passive forms are not applicable because the verb is intransitive/reflexive and does not form a normal passive.