Verb

gestehen

Translation

to confess, to admit

Er gestand den Diebstahl.

He confessed to the theft.

Ich muss gestehen, dass ich mich geirrt habe.

I must admit that I was mistaken.

((sth.acc)) to confess sth. He confessed his mistake.

((dass)) to admit that... She admitted that she had lied.

((sb.dat)) ((sth.acc)) to confess sth. to sb. He confessed his love to her.

Synonyms: zugeben, bekennen; Antonyms: leugnen, abstreiten

From the prefix ge- and 'stehen' (to stand). It literally means 'to stand by something', i.e., to own up to it.

Imagine someone having to 'stand' up in court ('stehen') to 'confess' ('gestehen').