German

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Etymology

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ver- (indicating a faulty action) +‎ lernen (to learn)

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /fəʁˈlɛʁnən/, [fɐˈlɛɐ̯n(n̩)]
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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verlernen (weak, third-person singular present verlernt, past tense verlernte, past participle verlernt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive) to lose the ability to do a task due to rarely doing it; to unlearn, forget
    Ich hab gute drei Jahre kein Fahrrad mehr gefahren. Ich hab das komplett verlernt.
    I haven't ridden a bike in a good three years. I completely forgot how to do it.
  2. (transitive, figuratively) to cease doing, to forget
    Sie hat das Lachen verlernt.
    She doesn't laugh anymore.
    (literally, “She forgot how to laugh.”)

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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