Verb

anerkennen

Translation

to recognize, to acknowledge, to appreciate, to admit

Ich erkenne deine Leistung an.

I recognize your achievement.

Er hat seinen Fehler anerkannt.

He admitted his mistake.

Das Land wurde als Staat anerkannt.

The country was recognized as a state.

((sth.)) ((as sth.)) to recognize sth. as sth. The country was recognized as a state.

((sth.)) to recognize/acknowledge sth. I recognize your achievement.

Synonyms: to appreciate (würdigen), to accept (akzeptieren), to admit (zugeben); Antonyms: to deny (leugnen), to ignore (ignorieren)

From the prefix 'an-' (on, to) and 'erkennen' (to recognize, to know). It implies formally bestowing recognition upon something.

Think of 'an' + 'erkennen' as putting your 'knowing' ('kennen') *onto* something, thereby officially acknowledging it.