to regenerate / to recover
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to recover
To recover from exertion, illness, or stress and regain new physical or mental strength.
Nach dem Marathonlauf musste sich der Sportler erst einmal ein paar Tage regenerieren.
After the marathon, the athlete first had to recover for a few days.
The verb comes from the Latin 'regenerare'. The prefix 're-' means 'again', and 'generare' means 'to produce'. So the basic idea is always 'to restore something' or 'to create anew'.
Der Wald braucht viele Jahre, um sich nach einem Brand zu regenerieren.
The forest needs many years to regenerate after a fire.
When a person recovers, the verb is always used reflexively: 'sich regenerieren' (to recover). The subject (the person) and the reflexive pronoun are identical.
Im Urlaub konnte ich mich endlich richtig regenerieren.
On vacation, I was finally able to really recover.
The grammar reveals the meaning: A person 'regeneriert sich' (recovers, reflexive). You 'regeneriert etwas' (regenerate something) technical, transitively with an accusative object. A body part 'regeneriert' (regenerates), intransitively.
Der Akku muss alle paar Monate regeneriert werden.
The battery has to be regenerated every few months.
In this meaning, 'regenerieren' (to regenerate) is used for technical or chemical processes in which a component or substance is made usable again. Typical objects are filters, batteries, or catalytic converters.
Die Anleitung erklärt, wie man den Entkalkungsfilter regeneriert.
The instructions explain how to regenerate the descaling filter.
to renew
'erneuern' and 'regenerieren' can both have to do with restoration. You use 'erneuern' when something old or broken is replaced with something new. 'regenerieren' means more that something regains strength or returns to a usable state. With people, you usually say 'sich regenerieren' when they recover after stress or exertion. In technology, chemistry, or biology, 'regenerieren' can also describe restoration. The words can be confused because both refer to a kind of renewed functioning. 'Erneuern' fits when something is being replaced; 'regenerieren' fits when something is recovering or being restored from within.
Nach dem langen Lauf hat sich Tom einen Tag lang regeneriert.
After the long run, Tom spent a day recovering.
In der Schule erneuern wir die alten Computer im Medienraum.
At school, we are replacing the old computers in the media room.