to entrust / confide
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to confide
To tell someone something secret or personal, trusting that this person will keep it to themselves.
Ich muss dir ein Geheimnis anvertrauen, aber du darfst es niemandem weitererzählen.
I have to confide a secret to you, but you must not tell anyone else.
'Anvertrauen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' goes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Er vertraut mir seine Sorgen an.
He confides his worries to me.
This verb always requires a person in the dative. This person is the one whom you trust and to whom you communicate or hand over something.
Sie vertraute nur ihrem Bruder die Wahrheit an.
She confided the truth only to her brother.
The reflexive form 'sich jemandem anvertrauen' means to open up emotionally to a person. The reflexive pronoun 'sich' is in the accusative here.
Er brauchte lange, bis er sich seinem Therapeuten anvertrauen konnte.
It took him a long time before he could confide in his therapist.
When it is about telling something personal, the object being confided is often something abstract. Typical objects are 'ein Geheimnis' (a secret), 'eine Sorge' (a worry), or 'ein Problem' (a problem).
Ihrer besten Freundin vertraute sie alle ihre Probleme an.
She confided all her problems to her best friend.
When you give someone responsibility for something or someone, the object being entrusted is usually concrete. Typical objects are 'die Kinder' (the children), 'das Haus' (the house), or 'der Hund' (the dog).
Kann ich dir für ein paar Stunden meinen Hund anvertrauen?
Can I entrust my dog to you for a few hours?
to tell
'erzählen' and 'anvertrauen' can both mean that you tell someone something. 'erzählen' is general: you can tell a story, an experience, or a piece of information, even very casually. 'anvertrauen' is more personal and stronger. You tell someone something secret, difficult, or very private because you trust that person. Learners may confuse the words because in both cases information is passed on. If it is just about ordinary reporting, 'erzählen' fits. If trust and a personal secret are important, 'anvertrauen' fits better.
Nach dem Streit vertraut Sofia ihrer besten Freundin ihre Sorgen an.
After the argument, Sofia confides her worries to her best friend.
Luis erzählt heute bei der Arbeit von seinem neuen Fahrrad.
Today at work, Luis tells people about his new bicycle.