warnen

Warnen is a German verb meaning to warn, caution, or alert someone about potential danger, risk, or undesirable consequences. It is used to inform someone about a forthcoming hazard or to advise against a course of action. The verb governs two related constructions: with a direct object as the person being warned (jemanden warnen) and with a prepositional object indicating what to warn about (vor etwas warnen). In the latter case the typical construction is "warnen vor" followed by the hazard, e.g., "Der Wetterdienst hat vor Gewittern gewarnt."

Grammar: Warnen is a regular weak verb. Present tense: ich warne, du warnst, er warnt, wir warnen, ihr warnt, sie warnen. Preterite (simple past): ich warnte, du warntest, er warnte, wir warnten, ihr wartet, sie warnten. Past participle: gewarnt; auxiliary verb: haben. Imperative forms: du-Form – "Warn mich!"; ihr-Form – "Warnt mich!"; Sie-Form – "Warnen Sie mich!" In passive constructions one can say "Es wird gewarnt" or "Es wurde gewarnt."

Etymology: The word is of Germanic origin and has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as English warn and Dutch waarschuwen, reflecting a common root related to alerting or cautioning.

Usage notes: In media and public-safety contexts, "warnen" is common in phrases like "Die Behörde hat die Öffentlichkeit gewarnt" or "Der Lehrer warnte die Schüler vor den Folgen." The expression "vor etwas warnen" emphasizes the hazard to be avoided.

See also: warning, risk communication, safety warnings.