to unlearn
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to unlearn
To forget or no longer master a skill or knowledge that was learned earlier, usually due to lack of practice.
Wenn man eine Sprache lange nicht spricht, kann man sie schnell wieder verlernen.
If you do not speak a language for a long time, you can quickly unlearn it again.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'ver-' and the verb 'lernen' (to learn). Here, 'ver-' has a negative meaning and reverses the action: you forget something that you have learned.
Ich habe fast mein ganzes Schulfranzösisch wieder verlernt.
I have unlearned almost all of my school French.
'Verlernen' (to unlearn) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Sie hat nie verlernt, wie man Fahrrad fährt.
She has never unlearned how to ride a bike.
You typically unlearn skills or knowledge. The object is often a language, an instrument, a sport, or a craft.
Nach zwanzig Jahren Pause habe ich das Stricken komplett verlernt.
After a twenty-year break, I have completely unlearned how to knit.
to forget
Vergessen means that individual pieces of knowledge or information are no longer remembered. Verlernen, by contrast, refers to the loss of a skill that was once mastered, often due to a lack of practice. Use vergessen for words you can no longer remember, and verlernen for an ability you can no longer perform.
Nach Jahren ohne Spanisch habe ich das freie Sprechen verlernt.
After years without Spanish, I have lost the ability to speak freely.
Nach Jahren ohne Spanisch habe ich viele Wörter vergessen.
After years without Spanish, I have forgotten many words.
