Erfahrung

Erfahrung is a German noun meaning experience. It refers to knowledge gained through personal involvement in events, and to practical skill developed by doing. The term can also denote general familiarity with a subject or activity, accumulated over time.

Etymology: Erfahrung derives from the verb erfahren, “to experience” or “to learn by experience,” with the abstract-noun suffix -ung. Related forms include erfahren (to experience), Erfahrungsbericht (experience report), and erfahrungsgemäß (as is typical from experience).

Usage: In everyday language, people speak of Erfahrung sammeln (to gain experience), aus eigener Erfahrung (from personal experience), and der Erfahrungsschatz (the treasury of experience). In formal contexts, Erfahrung often connotes practical or empirical knowledge gained through practice, in contrast to theoretical knowledge.

Relation to related terms: Erlebnis refers to a lived event or personal occurrence, whereas Erfahrung emphasizes knowledge or skill obtained from such events. In philosophy and social science, Erfahrung can denote sense-experience or empirical knowledge, and is often discussed in relation to theory, reasoning, or speculation. Terms like Erfahrungswissen (experiential knowledge) and Erfahrungsgemäß (empirically, as experience suggests) are common variants.

See also: Erfahrungsbericht, Erfahrungswissen, Erfahrungsgemäß.