to glimpse / behold
Loading your saved state.
to glimpse / behold
To see or notice someone or something, often suddenly or for the first time. The word is usually used in an elevated or literary style and is a more formal alternative to 'sehen' (to see).
Als er den Gipfel erreichte, erblickte er ein atemberaubendes Panorama.
When he reached the summit, he beheld a breathtaking panorama.
'Erblicken' (to glimpse/behold) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'er-' remains firmly attached to the verb 'blicken' (to look/gaze) in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Er hat am Horizont ein Schiff erblickt.
He glimpsed a ship on the horizon.
This word belongs to an elevated, rather literary or poetic style. It is rarely used in normal everyday conversation.
In der Ferne erblickte der Wanderer die Lichter der Stadt.
In the distance, the hiker beheld the lights of the city.
'Erblicken' (to glimpse/behold) is a transitive verb and always requires an accusative object. You always erblickt 'jemanden' (someone) or 'etwas' (something).
Plötzlich erblickte sie ihren alten Freund in der Menschenmenge.
Suddenly, she glimpsed her old friend in the crowd.
The phrase 'das Licht der Welt erblicken' (to see the light of day) is a fixed idiom and means 'geboren werden' (to be born). It is used as a unit and often appears in a solemn or narrative context.
Der berühmte Komponist erblickte 1770 das Licht der Welt.
The famous composer saw the light of day in 1770.
to see
'sehen' and 'erblicken' both mean that you perceive something with your eyes. 'sehen' is the normal everyday word and fits almost everywhere. 'erblicken' sounds more elevated or literary and is often used when you see something suddenly or for the first time. In a normal conversation, you usually say 'sehen'. 'erblicken' fits better in stories, reports, or more solemn texts.
Auf dem Berg hat die Gruppe plötzlich das Meer in der Ferne erblickt.
On the mountain, the group suddenly glimpsed the sea in the distance.
Emma sieht am Abend viele Lichter auf der Straße.
In the evening, Emma sees many lights on the street.