Verkünden

Verkünden is a German verb meaning to announce publicly, proclaim, or declare something to others. It is used when information is made known to a wider audience or officially, such as a decision, a statement, or a message. The verb can appear in secular and religious contexts and often implies a formal or authoritative act.

Etymology and nuance: Verkünden is formed with the prefix ver- attached to kündigen (to announce, declare). The prefix indicates public proclamation or making known, rather than casual notifying. The sense is emphatic and public.

Usage and grammar: Verkünden is inseparable in its prefix, so the ver- stays attached in all tenses. It is treated as a regular verb in its conjugation. In the present tense one finds forms such as ich verkünde, du verkündest, er verkündet. The past tense is ich verkündete, du verkündetest, er verkündete; the perfect is ich habe verkündet. Common sentence patterns include direct objects or clauses: Die Regierung verkündet neue Maßnahmen. Der Prediger verkündet die Botschaft. In religious and ceremonial contexts one may encounter phrases like die frohe Botschaft verkünden.

Relation to other terms: The act of declaring publicly can also be expressed with synonyms such as verlautbaren oder ankündigen, depending on register and nuance. The noun form Verkündung (or Verkündigung) denotes the act or instance of proclaiming, a formal announcement or proclamation.