to ratify
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to ratify
To review an international treaty after it has been concluded, through the responsible state bodies, such as a parliament, and thereby make it legally valid and binding.
Der Bundestag muss das neue Klimaabkommen noch ratifizieren, bevor es in Kraft treten kann.
The Bundestag still has to ratify the new climate agreement before it can enter into force.
'Ratifizieren' (to ratify) is a formal term from politics and international law. It is used almost exclusively in official, written, or legal contexts and is not a word for everyday use.
Die Nachrichtensprecherin erklärte, dass der Vertrag nun ratifiziert sei.
The news anchor explained that the treaty had now been ratified.
The verb is almost always combined with international legal documents as its object. Typical objects are 'einen Vertrag' (a treaty), 'ein Abkommen' (an agreement), 'eine Konvention' (a convention), or 'ein Protokoll' (a protocol).
Mehr als 100 Staaten haben die Konvention bereits ratifiziert.
More than 100 countries have already ratified the convention.
The ending '-ieren' often shows that a verb comes from a foreign language, usually Latin or French. These verbs are conjugated regularly and weakly in German (ratifizierte, hat ratifiziert).
Das Parlament hat das Gesetz gestern ratifiziert.
The parliament ratified the law yesterday.
to confirm
'bestätigen' and 'ratifizieren' can both express official approval or confirmation. However, 'bestätigen' is much more general: you can confirm an appointment, receipt of a message, or the accuracy of information. 'ratifizieren' is used only in a very specific political and legal context. In this case, a responsible state body makes an international treaty binding. In everyday life, 'bestätigen' is almost always correct; 'ratifizieren' only fits international-law treaties.
Das Parlament ratifiziert den Vertrag nach einer langen Debatte.
The parliament ratifies the treaty after a long debate.
Mia bestätigt morgen den Termin für den Sprachkurs.
Mia will confirm the appointment for the language course tomorrow.