erscheinen
to appear
To become visible or come into view.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Regen erschien ein doppelter Regenbogen am Horizont.
After the rain, a double rainbow appeared on the horizon.
erscheinen
to appear
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
erscheinen
to appear
To be present or show up at a particular place, often for an official occasion.
EXAMPLE
Der Zeuge ist heute nicht zur Verhandlung erschienen.
The witness did not appear at the hearing today.
erscheinen
to be published
To be published, for example a book, an article, or a magazine.
EXAMPLE
Die nächste Ausgabe der Zeitschrift erscheint am kommenden Montag.
The next issue of the magazine will be published next Monday.
erscheinen
to seem
To make a certain impression or seem a certain way.
EXAMPLE
Diese Lösung erscheint mir auf den ersten Blick am sinnvollsten.
At first glance, this solution seems the most sensible to me.
erscheinen
to appear
To show itself as a supernatural being such as a ghost or a vision.
EXAMPLE
Der Legende nach soll ihr nachts der Geist ihrer Urgroßmutter erschienen sein.
According to legend, the ghost of her great-grandmother is said to have appeared to her at night.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Erscheinen' (to appear) is an inseparable verb derived from 'scheinen' (to shine, to seem). The prefix 'er-' often indicates the beginning of a process. So 'erscheinen' means that something begins to become visible or to have an effect.
EXAMPLE
Plötzlich erschien ein Licht am Ende des Tunnels.
Suddenly, a light appeared at the end of the tunnel.
Perfect tense with 'sein'
The verb 'erscheinen' (to appear) always forms the perfect tense with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be). This is because it describes a change of state or appearing at a place.
EXAMPLE
Der Film ist letztes Jahr erschienen.
The film was released last year.
In formal contexts
In the meaning 'anwesend sein' (to be present), 'erscheinen' (to appear) is often used in a formal or official context. For example, people speak of 'zu einem Termin zu erscheinen' (to appear for an appointment) or 'vor Gericht zu erscheinen' (to appear in court).
EXAMPLE
Der Angeklagte ist nicht vor Gericht erschienen.
The defendant did not appear in court.
For publications
In the meaning 'veröffentlicht werden' (to be published), 'erscheinen' (to appear / be published) is used exclusively for media products. Typical phrases are 'ein Buch erscheint' (a book is published), 'eine Zeitschrift erscheint wöchentlich' (a magazine is published weekly), or 'ein Artikel erscheint online' (an article is published online).
EXAMPLE
Sein neuer Roman ist gerade erst erschienen.
His new novel has only just been published.
Sentence structure with dative
When 'erscheinen' (to seem) means that something makes a certain impression, the person who has the impression is in the dative. The construction is often: 'etwas erscheint jemandem + Adjektiv' (something seems + adjective to someone).
EXAMPLE
Diese Aufgabe erscheint mir sehr kompliziert.
This task seems very complicated to me.
Context: the supernatural
This meaning is used almost only for supernatural beings such as ghosts and angels, or in visions and dreams. The person who has the apparition is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Im Traum ist ihm sein verstorbener Großvater erschienen.
In a dream, his deceased grandfather appeared to him.
Compare with
kommenscheinenveröffentlichenwirkenaussehenauftretenVeröffentlichungvorkommenblickengrüßenauftauchenPublikationrauskommenVorscheindastehenherauskommenauflaufenrausbringenanmuteneinfinden
erscheinen vs kommen
to come
Both words can express arriving for an appointment. kommen is the neutral term for arriving, while erscheinen is often used for an official or formal occasion. In everyday situations, kommen is the natural choice; for an official invitation or event, erscheinen may sound more appropriate.
erscheinen
Ich erscheine morgen pünktlich zur offiziellen Sitzung.
I’ll appear at the official meeting on time tomorrow.
kommen
Ich komme morgen pünktlich zu unserem Treffen.
I’m coming to our meeting on time tomorrow.
In real life
Loading video examples...