Verb

erkennen

Translation

to recognize, to identify, to realize, to discern

Ich habe dich an deiner Stimme erkannt.

I recognized you by your voice.

Er erkannte die Gefahr zu spät.

He recognized the danger too late.

((j-n/et4)) ((an+3)) erkennen to recognize sb./sth. by sth. I recognize you by your jacket.

((et4)) erkennen to realize/discern sth. She recognized her mistake.

Synonyms: identifizieren, wahrnehmen; Antonyms: verkennen (to misjudge)

From the prefix 'er-' (indicating achievement or completion) + 'kennen' (to know). It implies 'coming to know' or 'achieving knowledge'.

Think of it as a level deeper than 'kennen'. You 'kennen' a person, but you 'erkennen' them by their voice after many years.