Verb

wahr|haben

Translation

to admit, to accept as true, to acknowledge

Er will es einfach nicht wahrhaben.

He just doesn't want to admit it.

Sie konnte die traurige Nachricht nicht wahrhaben.

She couldn't accept the sad news.

((sth.)) wahrhaben to admit (sth.), to accept (sth.) as true He doesn't want to admit his mistake.

Synonyms: zugeben, anerkennen; Antonyms: leugnen (to deny)

Composed of 'wahr' (true) and 'haben' (to have). Literally means 'to have as true'.

Imagine holding a fact in your hand and 'having' it as 'true'. It's frequently used negatively, as in not wanting to accept a difficult truth.