to determine / notice / secure
Loading your saved state.
to notice
To notice, recognize, or come to a particular realization about something.
Als ich zu Hause ankam, musste ich feststellen, dass ich meinen Schlüssel vergessen hatte.
When I arrived home, I had to notice that I had forgotten my key.
to determine
To establish, state, or diagnose something officially or with authority.
Der Gutachter konnte keine Mängel am Gebäude feststellen.
The expert could not determine any defects in the building.
to secure
To lock or fix a movable part so that it can no longer move.
Vergiss nicht, die Handbremse festzustellen, wenn du am Hang parkst.
Don't forget to secure the handbrake when you park on a slope.
'Feststellen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'fest-' goes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Der Techniker stellt einen Fehler fest.
The technician detects an error.
The verb is made up of 'fest' (stable, fixed) and 'stellen' (to place). The literal meaning is 'to fix something in place' (meaning 3). From this comes the figurative meaning of mentally 'fixing' a fact or realization (meanings 1 and 2).
Bitte stellen Sie die Räder des Kinderwagens fest, damit er nicht wegrollt.
Please lock the wheels of the stroller so it doesn't roll away.
The context reveals the meaning: If it is about a mechanical part (brake, wheel), 'fixieren' (to fix/secure) is meant. If a 'dass' clause follows, it usually means 'bemerken' (to notice). If official people are speaking (doctor, police), it often means 'offiziell konstatieren' (to officially establish/state).
Der Arzt stellte eine deutliche Besserung fest.
The doctor noted a clear improvement.
In the meaning of 'bemerken' (to notice) or 'erkennen' (to recognize), 'feststellen' is very often used with a subordinate clause that begins with 'dass'. This is used to report one's own observation or realization.
Er musste feststellen, dass sein Plan nicht funktionierte.
He had to notice that his plan wasn't working.
In a formal or official context, 'feststellen' is often used to establish facts. Typical collocations are 'den Tod feststellen' (to pronounce/confirm death), 'die Identität feststellen' (to establish identity), or 'einen Schaden feststellen' (to determine damage).
Die Polizei konnte die Ursache des Unfalls schnell feststellen.
The police were able to quickly determine the cause of the accident.
to recognize / realize
Both words can refer to a defect identified during an inspection. erkennen emphasizes perceiving or understanding the problem, while feststellen focuses more on noticing it as a confirmed result. erkennen fits your own realization; for a clearly recorded inspection result, feststellen is more appropriate.
Bei der Prüfung stellte ich fest, dass die Maschine einen Defekt hatte.
During the inspection, I determined that the machine had a defect.
Bei der Prüfung erkannte ich, dass die Maschine einen Defekt hatte.
During the inspection, I realized that the machine had a defect.
