erkranken
Translation
to fall ill, to get sick, to contract a disease
Examples
Er ist an Grippe erkrankt.
He fell ill with the flu.
Jedes Jahr erkranken viele Menschen.
Every year, many people get sick.
Grammar Patterns
((an+3)) to fall ill with (sth.) He fell ill with cancer.
Similar Words
krank werden (to get sick)
Etymology
From the prefix er- (denoting the beginning of a process) + krank (sick) + -en (verb ending). Literally 'to become sick'.
Memory Tips
Think of the 'er-' prefix as the start of a process. The process of becoming 'krank' (sick).