erzählen
Translation
to tell, to narrate, to recount
Examples
Er erzählt eine Geschichte.
He tells a story.
Sie erzählt von ihrer Reise.
She talks about her trip.
Grammar Patterns
((sb.dat)) ((sth.acc)) to tell sb. sth. Er erzählt den Kindern eine Geschichte.
((von+3)) to tell about sth. Sie erzählt von ihrem Urlaub.
Similar Words
berichten (to report), sagen (to say), schildern (to describe)
Etymology
From the prefix 'er-' (denoting completion) and 'zählen' (to count). Literally, to 'count out' a story.
Memory Tips
Think of 'zählen' (to count). When you 'erzählen', you are 'counting out' the details of a story one by one.