erfahren
Translation
found out, learned, experienced
Examples
Ich erfuhr die Wahrheit erst später.
I only found out the truth later.
Er erfuhr viel über die fremde Kultur.
He learned a lot about the foreign culture.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) ((from sb./sth.)) to learn/find out sth. from sb./sth. I found out about it from a friend.
((sth.)) to experience sth. He experienced a lot of suffering in his life.
Similar Words
lernen (to learn), herausfinden (to find out), erleben (to experience)
Etymology
From the prefix 'er-' (denoting achievement) and 'fahren' (to travel, go). Literally 'to travel through to an end', hence 'to experience' or 'to find out'.
Memory Tips
Imagine you 'fare' through a situation to gain experience and 'find out' what it's like.