EXPLAIN - Translation from English into German

English

German

I. ex·plain [ɪkˈspleɪn, ekˈ-] VB trans

1. explain (make understandable):

to explain sth [to sb]: [jdm] etw erklären

to explain sth [to sb] reason, motive: [jdm] etw erläutern

our guide explained where the cathedral was: unser Führer erklärte uns den Weg zur Kathedrale

2. explain (give reasons):

to explain sth: etw erklären

to explain sth secret: etw aufklären

no one has been able to explain the accident: niemand hat bisher eine Erklärung für den Unfall

please could you explain why you're so late?: könntest du mir bitte erklären, warum du so spät kommst?

to explain that ...: erklären, dass...

3. explain (make clear):

to explain oneself: sich acc [deutlich] ausdrücken

please explain yourself more clearly: bitte drücken Sie sich etwas genauer aus

4. explain (justify):

to explain oneself: sich acc rechtfertigen

you'd better explain yourself: du solltest mir das erklären

II. ex·plain [ɪkˈspleɪn, ekˈ-] VB intr

explain: eine Erklärung geben

I just can't explain: ich kann es mir einfach nicht erklären

let me explain: lassen Sie es mich erklären

explain away VB trans

1. explain away (dispel doubts):

to explain away ⇆ sth: eine [einleuchtende] Erklärung für etw acc haben

to explain away ⇆ sth: sich dat etw erklären

2. explain away pej (minimize):

to explain away ⇆ sth: etw bagatellisieren [o. inf abtun]

to explain sth more fully: etw näher erklären

to explain sth in a non-technical way: etw für den Laien verständlich erklären

to explain sth muzzily: etw undeutlich erklären

German

English

etw wegreden: to explain away sep sth

[jdm] etw erläutern: to explain sth [to sb]

jdm etw plausibel machen: to explain sth [or make sth clear] to sb

etw ist jdm erklärlich: sb can explain sth

etw auseinanderklamüsern: to explain sth [to oneself] in simple terms

explain VB

explain: erklären

explain: erläutern

Present
I	explain
you	explain
he/she/it	explains
we	explain
you	explain
they	explain

Past
I	explained
you	explained
he/she/it	explained
we	explained
you	explained
they	explained

Present Perfect
I	have	explained
you	have	explained
he/she/it	has	explained
we	have	explained
you	have	explained
they	have	explained

Past Perfect
I	had	explained
you	had	explained
he/she/it	had	explained
we	had	explained
you	had	explained
they	had	explained

See further verb tables

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Examples from the PONS Dictionary (editorially verified)

to explain sth in a non-technical way: etw für den Laien verständlich erklären

that's sort of difficult to explain: das ist nicht so einfach zu erklären

wer kann mir das erklären?: who can explain that to me?

[jdm] etw [an etw dat] erklären: to explain sth [to sb] [using sth]

jdm auseinandersetzen, was/wie ...: to explain to sb what/how ...

Monolingual examples (not verified by PONS Editors)

He explained that they would wait for the shuttle to land, so the potential harm to the shuttle would not be a factor.

en.wikipedia.org

He explained that if the general's soldiers understood their commands but did not obey, it was the fault of the officers.

en.wikipedia.org

He explains that he would like to speak to him about forestry.

en.wikipedia.org

The theorem does not explain what it takes for the system to become a good regulator.

en.wikipedia.org

It explains all the mysterious forces we invented religions around.

en.wikipedia.org

Examples from the Internet (not verified by PONS Editors)

[...]

In this interview for akzente she explains how the company can – and must – use its expertise in addressing future challenges to win new clients and partners.

[...]

www.giz.de

[...]

Im Gespräch mit akzente erklärt sie, wie das Unternehmen mit seiner Expertise für wichtige Zukunftsthemen neue Auftraggeber und Partner gewinnen kann - und muss.

[...]

www.giz.de

[...]

"The last financial crisis and the high level of sovereign debt in some European countries have forced German companies to be more cautious when it comes to choosing the right kind of funding, " explains Haghani.

www.rolandberger.de

[...]

"Die letzte Finanzkrise sowie die hohe Verschuldung mancher europäischer Staaten haben deutsche Unternehmen zu mehr Vorsicht gezwungen, wenn es darum geht, sich für die richtigen Finanzierungsmittel zu entscheiden ", erklärt Haghani.

www.rolandberger.de

[...]

There ´ s no admission fee, but a small donation is expected since there is someone who explains everything.

[...]

www.ronny-pannasch.de

[...]

Eintritt muß keiner gezahlt werden, man erwartet allerdings eine kleine Spende, zumal es jemanden gibt, der alles erklärt.

[...]

www.ronny-pannasch.de

[...]

Many theories have been formulated to explain the emergence and development of the informal economy.

[...]

www.giz.de

[...]

Eine Vielzahl von Theorien wurde entwickelt, um das Entstehen und die Entwicklung der informellen Wirtschaft zu erklären.

[...]

www.giz.de

[...]

Excessive red-tape, time-consuming administrative procedures and the widespread impression of bureaucratic arbitrariness explain why citizens in the countries of the South Caucasus traditionally have little confi dence in local government.

[...]

www.giz.de

[...]

Ausufernde Bürokratie, langwierige Behördengänge und nicht selten der Verdacht amtlicher Willkür erklären die traditionell geringe Wertschätzung für die kommunalen Verwaltungen in den Ländern des Südkaukasus.

[...]

www.giz.de