erinnern

Erinnern is a German verb meaning to remember or to recall. The common reflexive form is sich erinnern: Ich erinnere mich an den Bahnhof; du erinnerst dich daran; er erinnert sich. The transitive construction jemanden an etwas erinnern means to remind someone of something. The related nouns das Erinnern (the act of remembering) and die Erinnerung (a memory or recollection) are closely linked but used in different contexts.

In cognitive terms, erinnern refers to retrieving stored information from memory. Memory involves processes such as encoding, storage, and retrieval, and speakers distinguish between recalling a past event (remembering) and recognizing something as familiar. Emotion and context can influence how vividly or accurately memories are retrieved.

Culturally, Erinnerung is central to Erinnerungskultur in German-speaking regions, where memory of the past is discussed in education, journalism, and commemorations. The term also appears in philosophy and literature as a theme that shapes individual and collective identity and raises questions about responsibility for what is remembered and forgotten.

Usage examples illustrate the distinction between act and content: Ich erinnere mich an meinen ersten Schultag; Kannst du mich morgen an den Termin erinnern? In formal writing, das Erinnern refers to the act of remembering, while die Erinnerung denotes a specific memory or recollected content.