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' and 'verlernen' can both mean that something is no longer in your head or no longer available. The difference is important: 'vergessen' is used for information, names, appointments, or individual things that you do not remember. 'verlernen' is used for skills or knowledge that you used to have, but can no longer do well because of a lack of practice. So you can forget a phone number, but you can 'verlernen' swimming, a language, or an instrument. The words can be confused because in both cases something was there before and is now missing.
Meine Kollegin hat nach vielen Jahren ohne Übung fast verlernt, Französisch zu sprechen.
After many years without practice, my colleague has almost forgotten how to speak French.
Im Bürgerbüro habe ich den Namen der Sachbearbeiterin vergessen.
At the citizens' office, I forgot the caseworker's name.