Proklamieren

Proklamieren is a German verb that means to proclaim, to declare publicly and officially, or to announce something with formal authority. It is used for statements or acts intended to be authoritative and publicly binding, such as declarations of independence, state of emergency, royal or religious proclamations, and official notices issued by governments, courts, or institutions.

Etymology and usage contexts: Proklamieren derives from the root related to proclamation and is connected to Latin proclamare “to proclaim.” The term is common in formal, historical, or legal-political contexts and often appears in phrases that emphasize official status or ceremonial character.

Grammar and style: Proklamieren is a transitive verb that typically takes a direct object in the accusative, for example, proklamiert eine Unabhängigkeit, proklamierte den Notstand, or proklamieren eine Verfassung. The passive voice is also common in formal writing: Die Unabhängigkeit wurde proklamiert. The noun form is Proklamation, used for the proclamation itself, e.g., eine Proklamation der Unabhängigkeit.

Examples: Die Regierung proklamierte am Morgen den Notstand. Das Königreich proklamierte seine neue Verfassung. Die Unabhängigkeit des Landes wurde proklamiert.

Related terms: Proklamation (the act or document of proclaiming), proklamator is rarely used in modern German; alternatives for different nuance include verkünden (to announce) or erklären (to declare). Proklamieren carries a sense of formal, authoritative declaration often tied to state, church, or official acts.