Verb

bekennen

Translation

to confess, to admit, to profess, to acknowledge

Der Angeklagte bekannte seine Schuld.

The defendant confessed his guilt.

Er bekennt sich offen zu seiner Homosexualität.

He is open about his homosexuality.

Ich muss bekennen, dass ich mich geirrt habe.

I must confess that I was mistaken.

((et4)) to confess (sth.) He confessed his mistake.

sich ((zu+3)) to profess/commit to (sth.) She professes her commitment to environmental protection.

((, dass ...)) to admit (that ...) He admitted that he had lied.

zugeben (to admit), gestehen (to confess)

Comes from the prefix 'be-' and 'kennen' (to know). It means to make something known, to acknowledge or confess it.

To 'be-kennen' is to make something 'known' that was previously hidden or private. Connect it to the English word 'acknowledge'.