anreichern
to enrich
To increase the value, quality, or variety of something by adding substances or elements.
EXAMPLE
Man kann den Salat mit Nüssen und Kernen anreichern.
You can enrich the salad with nuts and seeds.
anreichern
to enrich
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
sich anreichern
to accumulate
To build up over time in a system, organism, or material and increase in concentration.
EXAMPLE
Schadstoffe aus der Industrie können sich in der Nahrungskette anreichern.
Pollutants from industry can accumulate in the food chain.
anreichern
to enrich
In nuclear physics, to increase the proportion of a particular isotope in an element, especially uranium.
EXAMPLE
Für den Betrieb eines Kernkraftwerks muss das natürliche Uran angereichert werden.
To operate a nuclear power plant, natural uranium has to be enriched.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Anreichern' (to enrich) is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Der Koch reichert die Soße mit frischen Kräutern an.
The cook enriches the sauce with fresh herbs.
Word structure
The verb consists of the prefix 'an-' and the word 'reichern', which comes from 'reich' (rich). So the literal meaning is to make something 'richer' by adding something.
EXAMPLE
Sie reicherte ihre Präsentation mit interessanten Fakten an.
She enriched her presentation with interesting facts.
Sentence structure with preposition
When you add something in order to improve it, the structure is: etwas (accusative) mit etwas (dative) anreichern.
EXAMPLE
Man kann Joghurt mit Früchten anreichern.
You can enrich yogurt with fruit.
Reflexive use
In the meaning 'sich ansammeln' (to accumulate), the verb is always used reflexively: 'sich anreichern'. It describes a process that takes place over time. The preposition 'in' (+ dative) is often used to name the place where something accumulates.
EXAMPLE
Das Gift reichert sich im Fettgewebe der Tiere an.
The poison accumulates in the animals’ fatty tissue.
Technical context
The meaning related to isotopes is highly technical. You find it almost exclusively in texts about nuclear physics, chemistry, or weapons technology.
EXAMPLE
In der Anlage wird Uran für die Nutzung in Kraftwerken angereichert.
Uranium is enriched in the facility for use in power plants.
Compare with
anreichern vs bereichern
to enrich
Bereichern and anreichern can both refer to improving something by adding content. Bereichern emphasizes the value gained or greater variety. Anreichern places more emphasis on specific elements or substances being added and often sounds somewhat more formal when used with abstract content.
anreichern
Die Rednerin reichert den Vortrag mit aktuellen Zahlen an.
The speaker enriches the presentation with current figures.
bereichern
Persönliche Geschichten bereichern den Vortrag und machen ihn lebendiger.
Personal stories enrich the presentation and make it more lively.
In real life
Loading video examples...