to convert
Loading your saved state.
to convert
To convince someone to adopt a new religion, worldview, or fundamental belief.
Er versuchte, seine Freunde zum Veganismus zu bekehren, indem er ihnen die Vorteile erklärte.
He tried to convert his friends to veganism by explaining the benefits to them.
to convert
To personally adopt a new religion, worldview, or fundamental belief.
Nach einer langen spirituellen Reise bekehrte er sich zum Buddhismus.
After a long spiritual journey, he converted to Buddhism.
'Bekehren' (to convert) is an inseparable verb with the prefix 'be-'. The word stem is connected to 'kehren' (to turn, to turn around). To 'bekehren' someone therefore means to “turn around” their opinion or faith.
Er ließ sich nicht von seiner Meinung abbringen.
He would not be dissuaded from his opinion.
Using it with or without a reflexive pronoun changes the meaning completely. 'Jemanden bekehren' means to convince another person. 'Sich bekehren' means that you yourself adopt a new belief.
Der Missionar wollte die Einheimischen bekehren.
The missionary wanted to convert the locals.
The new religion or belief that someone converts to is always introduced with the preposition 'zu' and the dative.
Sie versuchte, ihn zum Tierschutz zu bekehren.
She tried to convert him to animal welfare.
When you say 'jemanden bekehren' (to convert someone), it can have a slightly negative or pushy connotation. It often implies that someone is trying hard to impose their own opinion.
Bitte versuch nicht, mich bei jeder Gelegenheit zu deiner politischen Sicht zu bekehren.
Please don't try to convert me to your political view at every opportunity.
to convince
Both words can describe someone adopting a new religious or ideological view. Überzeugen is more general and can lead someone to adopt any opinion through arguments, while bekehren refers to a fundamental religious or ideological change. Use „überzeugen“ for a single view and „bekehren“ for this kind of fundamental change.
Die langen Gespräche bekehrten ihn zu einer neuen Religion.
The long conversations converted him to a new religion.
Die Argumente überzeugten ihn davon, dass diese religiöse Idee sinnvoll ist.
The arguments convinced him that this religious idea made sense.
