achte

Achte is a German word that functions as a grammatical form of the verb achten, meaning to respect, to value, or to pay attention. The form achte specifically appears in the present tense for the first-person singular: ich achte.

The verb achten also uses the stem ach- in other present-tense forms: du achtest, er/sie/es achtet, wir achten, ihr achtet, Sie achten. The imperative form for the informal second person singular is achte, used to issue a direct instruction, as in achte auf deine Umgebung (pay attention to your surroundings). The ordinary imperative plural is achtet.

Key meanings include:

- To respect or value someone or something, as in ich achte meine Freunde (I value my friends) or er achtet die Regeln (he observes/respects the rules).

- To pay attention or heed something, as in achte auf den Verkehr (pay attention to the traffic) or sie achtet darauf, pünktlich zu sein (she makes sure to be punctual).

Achte is not typically used as a standalone noun; it is primarily a verb form. In written German, the base infinitive is achten, while achte appears only in finite verb forms. The word does not denote a separate concept or entity beyond its grammatical function and its semantic range within the verb.

See also: achten, Pay attention in German, German verb conjugation.