Verb

erkennen

Translation

to recognize, to realize, to identify, to perceive

Er erkannte sie an ihrer Stimme.

He recognized her by her voice.

Ich erkannte sofort, was los war.

I immediately realized what was going on.

Sie erkannte die Gefahr nicht.

She did not recognize the danger.

to recognize sb./sth. to identify someone/something I didn't recognize you.

to recognize sb. by sth. to identify someone by a feature I recognized him by his laugh.

to realize that ... to become aware of something He realized that he had made a mistake.

Synonyms: to identify, to realize; Antonyms: to misjudge, to ignore

From the prefix 'er-' (indicating an outcome or achievement) and 'kennen' (to know).

Think of it as to re-know someone you already 'kennen' (know).