To adapt to a new situation, a person, or a thing so that it becomes normal and no longer feels strange or unpleasant.
example
Ich habe mich schnell an das Leben in der neuen Stadt gewöhnt.
I quickly got used to life in the new city.
Usage tips
Fixed preposition
The verb 'gewöhnen' (to get used to) is almost always used with the fixed preposition 'an' and the accusative. You get used to something or someone.
EXAMPLE
Die Katze muss sich erst an die neue Wohnung gewöhnen.
The cat first has to get used to the new apartment.
Reflexive vs. transitive
There is an important difference: 'sich an etwas gewöhnen' (to get used to something oneself) means that you adapt yourself. 'Jemanden an etwas gewöhnen' (to get someone used to something) means that you help another person or an animal adapt.
EXAMPLE
Ich gewöhne mich langsam an die Kälte.
I am slowly getting used to the cold.
Use with 'daran'
If the thing you get used to is an action, you use 'daran' and a subordinate clause with 'dass' (that) or an infinitive construction with 'zu' (to).
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mich daran gewöhnt, jeden Morgen früh aufzustehen.
I have gotten used to getting up early every morning.
Compare with
near_synonym · confusable
gewöhnen vs erziehen
to raise / educate
'gewöhnen' and 'erziehen' can both have to do with behavior, especially with children or animals. 'gewöhnen' means that something becomes normal after some time, or that you get someone used to something. It is often about a specific situation or habit. 'erziehen' is more deliberate and broader: a person teaches a child or animal rules, values, or a particular behavior. Learners may confuse the words because both describe a change in behavior. The simple difference is: you get used to something, but you raise or train someone toward a particular behavior.
gewöhnen
Nach ein paar Wochen hat sich das Kind an den neuen Kindergarten gewöhnt.
After a few weeks, the child got used to the new kindergarten.
erziehen
Die Eltern erziehen ihre Tochter dazu, ehrlich zu sein.
The parents are raising their daughter to be honest.