gehorchen

Gehorchen is a German verb meaning to obey or to comply with the commands or authority of another person or institution. It is used with a dative object: jemandem gehorchen. Examples: „Ich gehorche dir.“ and „Die Soldaten gehorchten dem Befehl.“ Phrases like „dem Gesetz gehorchen“ express obedience to law.

The noun Gehorsam (obedience) and the adjective gehorsam describe the quality of obedience; the verb befolgen is a related term that emphasizes complying with rules or instructions rather than submitting to a person.

Etymology: The verb derives from horchen (to listen or hearken) with the prefix ge-, forming a sense of listening to and following orders.

Conjugation: Gehorchen is a regular verb. Present: ich gehorche, du gehorchst, er gehorcht, wir gehorchen, ihr gehorcht, sie gehorchen. Preterite: ich gehorchte, du gehorchtest, er gehorchte, wir gehorchten, ihr gehorchtet, sie gehorchten. Perfect: ich habe gehorcht (du hast gehorcht, er hat gehorcht).

Usage: Gehorchen denotes obedience to authority or rules and is common in formal and everyday language. It contrasts with befolgen (to comply with specific instructions) and folgen (to follow in a broader sense). In psychology and history, Gehorsam is used to discuss obedience to authority, including studies and discussions about conformity and control.