to acknowledge
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to not want to acknowledge
To refuse to accept an unpleasant or shocking fact as real.
Sie wollte es einfach nicht wahrhaben, dass sie die Prüfung nicht bestanden hatte.
She simply did not want to acknowledge that she had failed the exam.
to acknowledge
To recognize and accept a fact or situation as true. This form is used less often than the negated variant.
Du musst die Realität endlich wahrhaben und aufhören, dir etwas vorzumachen.
You finally have to acknowledge reality and stop fooling yourself.
The verb is made up of 'wahr' (true) and 'haben' (to have) and is separable. The prefix 'wahr' comes at the end in a main clause, but stays attached to the verb in a subordinate clause.
Er wollte die schlechte Nachricht nicht wahrhaben.
He did not want to acknowledge the bad news.
This verb is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'etwas nicht wahrhaben wollen' (to not want to acknowledge something). The 'etwas' can be a noun in the accusative or a whole subordinate clause with 'dass' (that).
Sie will seinen Verrat einfach nicht wahrhaben.
She simply does not want to acknowledge his betrayal.
The positive form, meaning the use without 'nicht' (not) and 'wollen' (to want), is extremely rare. It sounds very formal, almost old-fashioned, and practically does not occur in everyday speech.
Er musste die Niederlage als Tatsache wahrhaben.
He had to acknowledge the defeat as a fact.
to accept
Both words can refer to acknowledging an unpleasant fact. „Wahrhaben“ focuses primarily on recognizing that something is real, while „akzeptieren“ can additionally express a willingness to go on living with it. Use „wahrhaben“ for recognizing reality and „akzeptieren“ for accepting it.
Nach dem Gespräch konnte sie endlich wahrhaben, dass sich ihr Leben verändert hatte.
After the conversation, she was finally able to acknowledge that her life had changed.
Nach dem Gespräch konnte sie endlich akzeptieren, dass sich ihr Leben verändert hatte.
After the conversation, she was finally able to accept that her life had changed.
