01
einen
to unite
To bring different people, groups, or things together into one unit; to unify.
example
Der gemeinsame Gegner einte die zerstrittenen Stämme.
The common enemy united the feuding tribes.
einen
to unite
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'einen' (to unite) is closely related to the number 'eins' (one) and the adjective 'einig' (in agreement). The basic meaning is always to make something into one unit.
EXAMPLE
Nach langer Diskussion waren sich alle einig.
After a long discussion, everyone was in agreement.
Transitive vs. reflexive
You can 'einen' (unite) someone or something (transitive), for example 'ein Land einen' (to unite a country). The verb can also be used reflexively: 'sich einen' then means that groups or people join together or reach an agreement.
EXAMPLE
Der König versuchte, die verfeindeten Fürsten zu einen.
The king tried to unite the hostile princes.
Register and style
The verb 'einen' (to unite) is rather formal and is often used in political, historical, or abstract contexts. It is frequently found in news reports or history books.
EXAMPLE
Der Wunsch nach Unabhängigkeit einte die Bevölkerung.
The desire for independence united the population.
Compare with
einen vs ein
a / one
'ein' and 'einen' may look similar, but here they belong to completely different parts of speech. 'ein' is an article or a numeral and comes before a masculine or neuter noun, for example 'ein Mann' (a man) or 'ein Kind' (a child). 'einen' is a verb here and means to make several people or things into one unit. Learners may confuse the forms because 'einen' also looks like a form of the article. So pay attention to the function in the sentence: if the word comes before a noun, it is usually an article; if it describes an action, it is the verb 'einen' (to unite).
einen
Das gemeinsame Ziel eint die ganze Familie.
The shared goal unites the whole family.
ein
Im Flur steht ein kleiner Tisch neben der Tür.
There is a small table in the hallway next to the door.
In real life
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