Verb

raten

Translation

to advise, to counsel, to guess, to solve a riddle

Ich rate dir, vorsichtig zu sein.

I advise you to be careful.

Kannst du mein Alter raten?

Can you guess my age?

Er riet mir zu diesem Buch.

He advised me to read this book.

((j-m)) ((et4 / zu+3)) to advise ((sb.)) ((sth. / to do sth.)) The doctor rated him to rest.

((et4)) to guess ((sth.)) Can you rate my name?

Synonyms: empfehlen (to recommend), vermuten (to assume); Antonyms: wissen (to know), befehlen (to command)

From Old High German 'rātan' (to advise, consider). Related to English 'to read' in its older sense of 'to interpret'.

Remember the two main meanings: to advise and to guess. The noun 'der Rat' (advice) is a good anchor.