ich vergebe dir
In German, "I forgive you" is expressed as ich vergebe dir.
This phrase is used to tell someone that you no longer feel angry or resentful toward them for a mistake.
Which one should you use?
While ich vergebe dir is used for forgiving a person or an offense, the synonym ich verzeihe dir is more common and slightly more colloquial in everyday interpersonal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb vergeben requires the dative case for the person being forgiven. This is why "you" becomes dir in informal settings or Ihnen in formal settings, rather than using the accusative dich.
Did you know?
- The verb vergeben also means 'to give away' or 'to assign'. In a sports context, it describes a missed opportunity, such as when a player 'gives away' a goal.
- If you use the more casual ich verzeihe dir, you are using a verb that also relates to the word for 'consuming' or 'devouring' something, like food.
- In German, you can 'forgive' a debt using vergeben. This links the act of emotional forgiveness to the financial act of cancelling a debt.
Examples in context
- Ja, ich vergebe dir.Yes, I forgive you.This sentence is useful for confirming forgiveness using ich vergebe dir.Tatoeba #13044414 by felix63, translation #13245993 by araneo
- Alice, ich vergebe dir, weil ich dich liebe.Alice, I forgive you because I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing the reason for forgiveness using ich vergebe dir.Tatoeba #10963221 by carlosalberto, translation #10963184 by carlosalberto
- Ich vergebe dir. Unsere Freundschaft ist mir wichtig.I forgive you. Our friendship means a lot to me.
- Ich vergebe dir für deinen Fehler.I forgive you for your mistake.
Example conversation
Lukas apologizes to Sarah after arriving late to their meeting.
- SarahDu bist schon wieder zu spät.You are late again.
- LukasEs tut mir leid, Sarah.I am sorry, Sarah.
- SarahSchon gut, ich vergebe dir.It is okay, I forgive you.
- LukasDanke, das bedeutet mir viel.Thank you, that means a lot to me.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
