bekennt

Bekennt is a German verb form derived from bekunden. In ordinary usage it appears in the present tense as part of the phrases er bekennt, ihr bekennt, sie bekennen, etc. The verb’s most common sense is to acknowledge or confess something, whether a fault, a fact, or a belief. It is often used reflexively with sich: sich zu etwas bekennen, meaning to publicly declare one’s commitment or stance. The sense can range from admitting guilt in a legal sense to professing loyalty, faith, or affiliation.

Etymology and meaning

The verb bekunden originates from the prefix be- combined with kennen, historically shaping the sense “to make known, to reveal.” Over time it acquired the additional nuances of confession, avowal, or declaration. In modern German, bekunden is used in legal, religious, political, and everyday contexts to express an explicit acknowledgment or commitment.

Usage and examples

Common uses include: Er bekennt sich schuldig. (He pleads guilty / confesses). Das Unternehmen bekennt seine Verantwortung. (The company acknowledges its responsibility). Sie bekennt sich zu ihrer Herkunft. (She avows her origin). The reflexive construction sich bekennen is especially frequent when describing beliefs or loyalties, as in Glaubensbekenntnis or political Bekenntnisse.

Related terms

Noun forms include Bekenntnis (a confession, an avowal, or a creed) and Glaubensbekenntnis (creed). Related verbs include zugeben (to admit) and offenlegen (to disclose). The term is often contrasted with leugnen (to deny).

See also

Glaubensbekenntnis, Bekenntnisse, Bekennen (to acknowledge or admit in another sense), and related expressions in legal or religious language.