to admit
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to admit
To reluctantly admit that something is true, especially one's own mistake, weakness, or guilt.
Er musste sich eingestehen, dass er einen großen Fehler gemacht hatte.
He had to admit to himself that he had made a big mistake.
'Eingestehen' (to admit) is a separable verb with the prefix 'ein-'. In a main clause, the prefix comes at the end. The verb is irregular: gesteht ein, gestand ein, hat eingestanden.
Nur widerwillig gestand er seinen Irrtum ein.
Only reluctantly did he admit his mistake.
'Eingestehen' (to admit) can be used reflexively ('sich etwas eingestehen' — to admit something to oneself), with an accusative object ('einen Fehler eingestehen' — to admit a mistake), or with a 'dass' clause.
Ich muss mir eingestehen, dass ich Hilfe brauche.
I have to admit to myself that I need help.
People typically admit negative things. Common combinations are: 'einen Fehler eingestehen' (to admit a mistake), 'eine Schwäche eingestehen' (to admit a weakness), 'seine Schuld eingestehen' (to admit one's guilt), or 'eine Niederlage eingestehen' (to admit defeat).
Es fällt ihm schwer, seine eigene Schwäche einzugestehen.
He finds it difficult to admit his own weakness.
to admit / to add
Both verbs can express admitting one's own mistake. “Zugeben” is the more general term, whereas “eingestehen” emphasizes more strongly that the person acknowledges it only reluctantly. Use “eingestehen” when the inner resistance to the admission is important.
Nur widerstrebend musste sie sich eingestehen, dass sie sich geirrt hatte.
Only reluctantly did she have to admit to herself that she had been wrong.
Nach kurzer Überlegung gab sie zu, dass sie sich geirrt hatte.
After a brief consideration, she admitted that she had been wrong.
