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sich ablehnen
/zɪç ˈapˌleːnən/
to decline
Er lehnt sich gegen die Entscheidung ab.
He declines the decision.
formal
To formally reject or refuse something, often in a bureaucratic or official context.
Der Antrag wurde von der Behörde abgelehnt.
The application was rejected by the authority.
Sie lehnte das Angebot höflich ab.
She politely declined the offer.
Commonly used in administrative, legal, or professional settings.
Collocations
einen Antrag ablehnento reject an applicationein Angebot ablehnento decline an offereinen Vorschlag ablehnento reject a proposal
Synonyms
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistake
Do not confuse 'sich ablehnen' with 'sich weigern' (to refuse to do something). 'Sich ablehnen' refers to rejecting something offered, while 'sich weigern' refers to refusing to perform an action.
Gold Rule
Formal Context
Use 'sich ablehnen' only in formal or official contexts, such as administrative decisions, legal matters, or professional settings.
Word Origin
The phrase 'sich ablehnen' combines the reflexive pronoun 'sich' (oneself) with the verb 'ablehnen' (to reject), which derives from the Old High German 'ablenken' (to turn away) and the Middle High German 'ablehnen' (to reject). The reflexive form emphasizes the active rejection of something by oneself.
Usage Notes
This phrase is typically used in formal contexts, such as official rejections, administrative decisions, or professional refusals. It is not used for casual or personal refusals.
Word Breakdown
sich
reflexive pronoun (oneself)
pronounablehnen
to reject or refuse
verbDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch