01
anbeten
to worship
To revere a deity or divine being with great awe and pray to it in worship.
example
In diesem Tempel beten die Gläubigen die Statue ihrer Göttin an.
In this temple, the believers worship the statue of their goddess.
anbeten
to worship
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Anbeten' (to worship / to idolize) is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er betet sie wegen ihrer Intelligenz an.
He idolizes her because of her intelligence.
Sentence structure with accusative
The verb 'anbeten' (to worship / to idolize) is always used with a direct object in the accusative. You ask: Whom or what does someone worship?
EXAMPLE
Die Fans beten den Sänger ihrer Lieblingsband an.
The fans idolize the singer of their favorite band.
Context clue
You can recognize the religious meaning from objects such as 'Gott' (God), 'Götter' (gods), or 'eine heilige Statue' (a holy statue). If the verb refers to an ordinary person (e.g. 'Sänger' (singer), 'Freundin' (girlfriend), 'Chef' (boss)), the figurative, exaggerated meaning 'sehr bewundern' (to admire very much) is always meant.
EXAMPLE
Die alten Ägypter beteten viele verschiedene Götter an.
The ancient Egyptians worshipped many different gods.
Strong exaggeration
When 'anbeten' (to worship / to idolize) is used for a person, it is a strong emotional exaggeration (hyperbole). It expresses extreme admiration or being in love, but not actual religious worship.
EXAMPLE
Er schaut sie an, als würde er sie anbeten.
He looks at her as if he worshipped her.
Compare with
anbeten vs lieben
to love
'lieben' and 'anbeten' can both express strong feelings for a person. 'lieben' is the normal word for deep affection, for example in a family or relationship. 'anbeten' is much stronger and usually exaggerated: it means that someone sees a person as almost perfect or greatly reveres them. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with strong feelings. But 'Ich liebe dich' (I love you) sounds natural and serious, while 'Ich bete dich an' sounds dramatic or very exaggerated. In addition, 'anbeten' can also have a religious meaning, when someone prays to a deity.
anbeten
Viele Fans beten die Sängerin fast an.
Many fans almost idolize the singer.
lieben
Er liebt seine Frau und spricht sehr liebevoll über sie.
He loves his wife and speaks about her very affectionately.
In real life
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