Achten

Achten is a verb found in German and Dutch with core senses related to regard, esteem, and attention. In both languages, the root conveys valuing or heeding something or someone, and it appears in a variety of constructions and idioms. Related noun forms and derivatives connect to broader concepts of attentiveness, respect, and caution.

In German, achten means to regard with respect or to pay attention. It is a regular verb: ich achte, du achtest, er achtet, wir achten, ihr achtet, sie achten. The past participle is geachtet, used in phrases like "Ich habe auf meine Gesundheit geachtet." Achten is often combined with auf to indicate what is being paid attention to: "Ich achte auf meine Gesundheit" or "Wir müssen darauf achten, pünktlich zu kommen." The noun Achtung (attention, caution) is etymologically related and is widely known as the interjection "Achtung!" used in warnings.

In Dutch, achten means to respect or esteem, and also to pay attention to. It is a regular verb; present tense forms occur as ik acht, jij/uw acht, hij/zij/het acht, wij achten, jullie achten, zij achten. Examples include "Hij acht zijn ouders" and "Wij achten haar als een vakvrouw." The noun "achting" expresses esteem or regard, and is used in formal correspondences with the closing phrase "Met achting" (yours sincerely).

See also: Achtung, the German interjection meaning attention or caution; achting, the Dutch noun for esteem.