to insure / to assure
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to insure
To conclude a contract with an insurance company in order to protect oneself against financial losses from a specific risk, such as an accident, theft, or illness.
Man sollte sein Auto unbedingt gegen Diebstahl versichern.
You should definitely insure your car against theft.
to assure
To assure someone emphatically that something is true or will happen in order to remove their doubts or worries.
Ich versichere Ihnen, dass Ihre Daten bei uns sicher sind.
I assure you that your data is safe with us.
to make sure
To make certain about something; to check whether something is in a particular state or is true.
Er versicherte sich mit einem Blick über die Schulter, dass ihm niemand folgte.
He made sure with a glance over his shoulder that no one was following him.
'Versichern' (to insure/to assure) is an inseparable verb derived from the adjective 'sicher' (safe/secure/sure). The prefix 'ver-' turns it into a verb with the basic meaning 'to make something secure.'
Bitte sichere die Leiter, bevor du hinaufsteigst.
Please secure the ladder before you climb up.
The grammar reveals the meaning: the preposition 'gegen' (against) points to insurance (m01). A dative object indicates that you are assuring someone of something (m02). The reflexive pronoun 'sich' means that you are checking something (m03).
Ich habe mein Fahrrad gegen Diebstahl versichert.
I insured my bicycle against theft.
When taking out insurance, you use the structure 'etwas versichern gegen' (to insure something against) + accusative. The accusative after 'gegen' names the risk.
Es ist ratsam, eine Reisegepäckversicherung gegen Verlust abzuschließen.
It is advisable to take out travel baggage insurance against loss.
To assure someone of something, the verb needs a person in the dative. The information being assured can follow as an accusative object or as a subordinate clause with 'dass' (that).
Der Arzt versicherte dem Patienten eine schnelle Besserung.
The doctor assured the patient of a quick recovery.
to confirm
Bestätigen and versichern can both give someone reassurance. Bestätigen is more likely to be based on existing information or a verification, while versichern is a personal, emphatic assurance. Bestätigen fits verified information, while versichern is more appropriate when reassuring a worried person.
Ich versicherte meiner besorgten Freundin, dass ich am Freitag ankommen würde.
I assured my worried friend that I would arrive on Friday.
Das Hotel bestätigte meine bereits gebuchte Ankunft für Freitag.
The hotel confirmed my arrival for Friday, which I had already booked.
