anzuregen

Anzuregen is a German verb meaning to stimulate, arouse, or foster something, especially to generate interest, discussion, motivation, or activity. It is commonly used in contexts such as education, science, politics, marketing, and public debate, where an action or message is intended to provoke a response or engagement.

Etymology and form: The word is built from the verb regen (to move, to stir) with the prefix an-, forming a separable verb. In the present tense it is conjugated as ich rege an, du regst an, er regt an, wir regen an, ihr regt an, sie regen an. The past tense is regte an and the past participle is angeregt. In infinitive constructions, especially with zu, one often sees etwas anzuregen or um etwas anzuregen.

Usage: Anrege situations typically involve triggering discourse, interest, or curiosity. Examples: Der Bericht regt die Debatte an. Der Vortrag regt das Publikum zum Nachdenken an. Diese Maßnahme soll Investitionen anregen. The pattern jemanden zu etwas anregen describes prompting someone to do something, as in Die Lehrkraft regt die Schülerinnen und Schüler dazu an, mehr zu lesen.

Nuances and synonyms: Synonyms include stimulieren, anspornen, motivieren, beflügeln. While usually neutral, anzuregen can carry sexual connotations in certain contexts, where it means to arouse sexually; in standard use, it refers to prompting interest or activity.