Erfährt

Erfährt is the third-person singular present tense of the German verb erfahren. The core meaning of erfahren is to learn something by information or inquiry (to find out) as well as to experience or undergo something (to go through). For example, one can say, “Sie erfährt heute die Nachricht” meaning she is learning of the news today, or “Er erfährt eine schwere Zeit” meaning he experiences a difficult period. The noun form Erfahrung means “experience,” and the related adjective erfahren means “experienced.”

Etymology and development: erfahren is formed with the prefix er- attached to fahren (to go, to travel). The prefix adds a sense of completion or result, which over time contributed to the sense of learning something through experience.

Grammar notes: erfahren is an inseparable prefix verb. Present tense forms include ich erfahre, du erfährst, er/sie/es erfährt, wir erfahren, ihr erfahrt, sie erfahren. The simple past (Präteritum) forms are erfuhr/ erfuhren for I/you/he/we, etc., while the perfect tense is formed with haben: ich habe erfahren, du hast erfahren, er hat erfahren, etc. Thematic usage includes reporting new information (“Ich habe davon erfahren”) and describing personal experiences (“eine Reise erfahren”).

Usage considerations: Use erfahren when emphasizing learning something newly known or directly experienced. For general education or skill acquisition, Lernen is often more appropriate. The noun Erfahrung and the adjective erfahren are common related forms.