erstatten
Translation
to reimburse, to refund, to report, to file (a complaint)
Examples
Die Firma erstattet die Reisekosten.
The company reimburses the travel expenses.
Er erstattet Anzeige gegen den Dieb.
He is filing a complaint against the thief.
Grammar Patterns
((sb.)) ((sth.)) to reimburse sb. for sth. The company reimburses me for the costs.
Anzeige ((gegen j-n)) erstatten to file a complaint against sb. She is filing a complaint against him.
Similar Words
Synonyms: zurückzahlen, entschädigen; Antonyms: bezahlen, fordern
Etymology
From the prefix 'er-' (indicating completion) and 'statten' (related to 'Statt', meaning 'place'). The idea is 'to put back in place'.
Memory Tips
Think of 'er-statten' as putting your financial 'state' back to how it was before an expense.