mahnen

Mahnen is a German verb meaning to admonish, warn, or remind someone to do something. In everyday use it denotes urging a person to comply with a duty, correct a fault, or heed a warning. The verb is transitive and commonly appears with zu-infinitives, for example: Der Vorgesetzte mahnt den Mitarbeiter, pünktlich zu erscheinen. It can also express a general call to action or exhortation.

The related noun Mahnung denotes a reminder or warning and is especially common in financial and administrative contexts. A creditor typically sends a Mahnung after a due date to request payment; if the amount remains unpaid, further steps such as a Mahnbescheid or other legal actions may follow. In ordinary language, a Mahnung can simply refer to any reminder of an obligation or appointment.

Etymology and usage notes: mahnen originates from Old High German and is etymologically linked to the noun Mahnung, both rooted in the idea of warning, urging, or reminding. In modern German, the verb retains two broad senses—moral or behavioral admonition and practical or administrative prompting, with the latter often appearing in debt collection and account handling.

See also: Mahnung, Mahnbescheid (in the context of debt collection), Zwangsvollstreckung. Overall, mahnen covers both interpersonal admonition and the formal practice of reminding or demanding adherence to obligations.