From Middle English lernen (“to learn", also, "to teach"”), from Old English leornian (“to learn", rarely also, "to teach”), from Proto-West Germanic *liʀnōn, from Proto-Germanic *lizaną, from Proto-Indo-European *(le-)lóys-e, stative from the root *leys- (“track, furrow, trace, trail”).
The spelling with ⟨ea⟩ is of Early Modern English origin and reflects a lengthening of /ɛ~e/ to /eː/ before /rn/ in Late Old English or Early Middle English, then later lowering to /ɛː/; the modern pronunciation reflects still later reshortening.
Cognate with Old Frisian lernia, lerna (“to learn”), Middle Low German lernen (“to learn", also, "to teach”), Middle Dutch leernen (“to learn", also, "to teach”) (whence Dutch lernen (“to study scripture”)), German lernen (“to learn”). See also lore and lear.
Meanings
The act of learning something.
I did a quick learn of the place by watching the people shuffle in. There was a healthy mix of beautiful and freaky people, who shared a few common denominators[…] 2003, Gregory A. Raymer, The Woodie Chronicles: My Journey Through America on the road t recovery in a 1949 Woodie Wagon:
From Middle English lernen (“to learn", also, "to teach"”), from Old English leornian (“to learn", rarely also, "to teach”), from Proto-West Germanic *liʀnōn, from Proto-Germanic *lizaną, from Proto-Indo-European *(le-)lóys-e, stative from the root *leys- (“track, furrow, trace, trail”).
The spelling with ⟨ea⟩ is of Early Modern English origin and reflects a lengthening of /ɛ~e/ to /eː/ before /rn/ in Late Old English or Early Middle English, then later lowering to /ɛː/; the modern pronunciation reflects still later reshortening.
Cognate with Old Frisian lernia, lerna (“to learn”), Middle Low German lernen (“to learn", also, "to teach”), Middle Dutch leernen (“to learn", also, "to teach”) (whence Dutch lernen (“to study scripture”)), German lernen (“to learn”). See also lore and lear.
Meanings
To acquire, or attempt to acquire knowledge or an ability to do something.
I have learned far more from them about how to be a scientist than they realize. Above all else, they taught me the virtues of proper waterfowl alignment. 1988, Mark Andre Peter Loranc, “Acknowledgements”, in A Study of the Ionospheric Signature of Ion Supply from the Ionosphere to the Magnetosphere (PhD dissertation), University of Texas at Dallas, page iv:
I was very impressed with the obvious amount of work that went into the learning and synchronization of such a complex and harmonically and difficult score. 1987 April 18, Tom Grabosky, “Gay Men's Voices Rise Up Singin'”, in Gay Community News, page 7:
It's time Dad learned (how) to change the oil in the car.
Every day I learn more about this great city. 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
Toddlers learn to walk at around one year old.
In my latest job, I've learnt to keep my mouth shut more than in the last one.
Other rules learnt by butlers include lighting candles 15 minutes before guests enter a room, and not saying "good morning" to guests until you are 5ft away. 2019 December 15, Hugh Graham, Alice Hutton, “Milk or tea first? Charles's butlers have the answer”, in The Sunday Times, number 10,188, page 5:
a school in which he learns sly circumvention 1782–1785, William Cowper, “(please specify the page)”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC:
To attend a course or other educational activity.
For, as he took delight to introduce me, I took delight to learn. 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:
To gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve.
learn from one's mistakes
To study.
I learn medicine.
They learn psychology.
To come to know; to become informed of; to find out.
He just learned that he will be sacked.
(qualifier:now only in non-standard speech and dialects) To teach.
But we’ll play Robin Hood—it’s noble fun. I’ll learn you. 1876, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XXVI, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Hartford, Conn.: The American Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 200:
And whan she had serched hym
she fond in the bottome of his wound that therin was poyson
And soo she heled hym[…]
and therfore Tramtrist cast grete loue to la beale Isoud
for she was at that tyme the fairest mayde and lady of the worlde
And there Tramtryst lerned her to harpe
and she beganne to haue grete fantasye vnto hym 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter IX, in Le Morte Darthur, book VIII:
Give him a clip round the ear. That'll learn him!
[…] Take heed of filling their [i.e., children's] heads with VVhimzies, and unprofitable Notions; for this vvill ſooner learn them to be malepert and proud, than ſober and humble. 1663 April 27 (Gregorian calendar), John Bunyan, “Touching Parents”, in Christian Behaviour; or The Fruits of True Christianity. […], London: […] F. Smith, […], →OCLC, page 56:
That'll learn him to bust my tomater. 1993, The Simpsons, (18 Feb. 1993) Lisa's thoughts
Sweete Prince, you learne me noble thankfulnes: […] 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature F3, verso:
Haue I not bene
Thy Pupill long? Haſt thou not learn'd me how
To make Perfumes? 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 373, column 1:
lij imprende (to acquire knowledge or ability) · mhn learnen (to acquire knowledge or ability) · enm lernen (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · ta கல் (to acquire knowledge or ability) · khb ᦵᦣᧃ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · bg у́ча се (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fa آموختن (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ru узна́ть (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · et õppima (to make use of a bad experience) · ne सिक्नु (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ja 学ぶ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · enm lernen (to be studying) · el μαθαίνω (to attend educational activity) · la cognosco (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · ms belajar (to acquire knowledge or ability) · sl naučiti se (to acquire knowledge or ability) · uk вивча́ти (to attend educational activity) · ka შესწავლა (to acquire knowledge or ability) · th ศึกษา (to acquire knowledge or ability) · css urse (to acquire knowledge or ability) · nrf apprendre (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fr étudier (to attend educational activity) · ia apprender (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ht aprann (to acquire knowledge or ability) · alt ӱренер (to acquire knowledge or ability) · sw kupata habari (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · os ахуыр кӕнын (to acquire knowledge or ability) · he למד (to acquire knowledge or ability) · cs zjistit (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · fi oppia (to attend educational activity) · la inaudiō (to acquire knowledge or ability) · mg mianatra (to acquire knowledge or ability) · la disco (to be studying) · be вучы́цца (to acquire knowledge or ability) · nl op de hoogte gesteld worden (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · lt išmokti (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ja 勉強する (to be studying) · mba tu-un (to acquire knowledge or ability) · es aprender (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · fi opiskella (to be studying) · id belajar (to attend educational activity) · ckb خوێندن (to be studying) · kmr elimîn (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hu megtanul (to acquire knowledge or ability) · wa studyî (to attend educational activity) · eo lerni (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fi saada selville (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · kmr fêr bûn (to make use of a bad experience) · txb ākl- (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fj vuli (to make use of a bad experience) · zdj ufunɗishia (to acquire knowledge or ability) · gd ionnsaich (to attend educational activity) · ja 習う (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ru учи́ться (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hu tanulmányokat folytat (to attend educational activity) · ro afla (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · hu tanul (to make use of a bad experience) · vo lärnön (to acquire knowledge or ability) · tdd ᥜᥫᥐᥱ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ba өйрәнеү (to acquire knowledge or ability) · eu ikasi (to acquire knowledge or ability) · te నేర్చుకొను (to acquire knowledge or ability) · pt descobrir que (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · ca aprendre (to make use of a bad experience) · umb okulilongisa (to acquire knowledge or ability) · my သင်ကြား (to acquire knowledge or ability) · sh učiti (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hu okul (to make use of a bad experience) · sl učiti se (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hsb wuknyć (to acquire knowledge or ability) · syl ꠢꠤꠇꠣ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fi oppia (to make use of a bad experience) · de lernen (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fy leare (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ca aprendre (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · af leer (to acquire knowledge or ability) · cs studovat (to be studying) · uk вивча́ти (to acquire knowledge or ability) · eu ikasi (to make use of a bad experience) · cs učit se (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · lez кӏелун (to acquire knowledge or ability) · rup anvetsu (to acquire knowledge or ability) · koi велавны (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ce деша (to acquire knowledge or ability) · pl nauczyć się (to acquire knowledge or ability) · mt tgħallem (to acquire knowledge or ability) · it imparare (to be studying) · cs dovědět se (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · ang ġeāscian (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · nl leren (to be studying) · la scisco (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · fy leare (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · et õppima (to attend educational activity) · km រៀន (to acquire knowledge or ability) · sv få reda på (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · tyv өөренир (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fr faire des études (to attend educational activity) · lad ambezar (to acquire knowledge or ability) · kmr xwandin (to be studying) · yue 學 /学 (to acquire knowledge or ability) · za hag (to acquire knowledge or ability) · am ተማረ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · enm lernen (to acquire knowledge or ability) · id belajar (to acquire knowledge or ability) · it imparare (to acquire knowledge or ability) · es aprender (to attend educational activity) · fr apprendre (to acquire knowledge or ability) · nv íhoołʼaah (to acquire knowledge or ability) · pt estudar (to be studying) · da lære (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · ca estudiar (to be studying) · ka სწავლა (to acquire knowledge or ability) · el σπουδάζω (to be studying) · sq mësoj (to acquire knowledge or ability) · mr कळणे (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · fy studearre (to attend educational activity) · pl uczyć się (to acquire knowledge or ability) · es estudiar (to be studying) · es aprender (to make use of a bad experience) · ro învăța (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ar اِعْتَبَرَ (to make use of a bad experience) · cdo 學 /学 (to acquire knowledge or ability) · lol ekola (to acquire knowledge or ability) · sq nxë (to acquire knowledge or ability) · wa aprinde (to acquire knowledge or ability) · el πληροφορούμαι (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · da erfare (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · shn လဵပ်ႈႁဵၼ်း (to acquire knowledge or ability) · lo ຮຽນ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · bg уча (to attend educational activity) · wa aprinde (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · sga fo·gleinn (to acquire knowledge or ability) · wa aprinde (to be studying) · hy սովորել (to acquire knowledge or ability) · la disco (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · da lære (to make use of a bad experience) · pt ficar sabendo (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · it apprendere (to acquire knowledge or ability) · es escarmentar (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ca aprendre (to attend educational activity) · wa studyî (to be studying) · ajp تعلم (to acquire knowledge or ability) · pt aprender (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · mww kawm (to acquire knowledge or ability) · nl ervaren (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · it apprendere (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · fi opetella (to acquire knowledge or ability) · el μαθαίνω (to acquire knowledge or ability) · wa aler a scole (to attend educational activity) · el μαθαίνω (to make use of a bad experience) · fi saada tietää (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · gd ionnsaich (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ddo тӏетӏра (to acquire knowledge or ability) · gd faigh a-mach (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · gd ionnsaich (to make use of a bad experience) · it apprendere (to attend educational activity) · ru изуча́ть (to be studying) · si ඉගෙනගන්නවා (to acquire knowledge or ability) · de lernen (to attend educational activity) · la disco (to attend educational activity) · gd ionnsaich (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · arz اتعلم (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fi opetella (to be studying) · tpw nhembo'e (to acquire knowledge or ability) · as শিকা (to acquire knowledge or ability) · chr ᎠᏕᏠᏆᎠ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · et õppima (to acquire knowledge or ability) · es aprender (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · mdf тонафнемс (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fa یاد گرفتن (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ar تَعَلَّمَ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hu értesül (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · hy ուսանել (to attend educational activity) · da lære (to attend educational activity) · hu elsajátít (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ro învăța (to make use of a bad experience) · bo སྦྱོང་བ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · bg уча се (to make use of a bad experience) · ca aprendre (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · rup nvetsu (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fo læra (to acquire knowledge or ability) · vi học (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ota اوگرنمك (to acquire knowledge or ability) · el μελετώ (to be studying) · ja 知る (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · ckb سەعی کردن (to be studying) · ln yekola (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ru учи́ться (to attend educational activity) · hy սովորել (to attend educational activity) · kmr elimîn (to make use of a bad experience) · gl aprender (to acquire knowledge or ability) · sv lära sig (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fi oppia (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · cs učit se (to acquire knowledge or ability) · eu ikasi (to attend educational activity) · et õppima (to be studying) · vi học tập (to acquire knowledge or ability) · mr शिकणे (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ar اِتَّعَظَ (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · sk učiť sa (to acquire knowledge or ability) · grc μανθάνω (to acquire knowledge or ability) · io lernar (to acquire knowledge or ability) · mfe aprann (to acquire knowledge or ability) · id belajar (to be studying) · sa शिक्षति (to acquire knowledge or ability) · cmn 學習 /学习 (to attend educational activity) · ckb فێر بوون (to make use of a bad experience) · ro studiu (to be studying) · et arenema (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · ur سیکھنا (to acquire knowledge or ability) · pt estudar (to attend educational activity) · ar تَعَلَّمَ (to attend educational activity) · la reperiō (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hi सीखना (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hy ուսանել (to acquire knowledge or ability) · uk вчи́тися (to acquire knowledge or ability) · xsr སློབ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · sk dozvedieť sa (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · kn ಕಲಿ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · bni yekola (to acquire knowledge or ability) · pt aprender (to make use of a bad experience) · tr öğrenmek (to acquire knowledge or ability) · it migliorare (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · ab аҵара (to acquire knowledge or ability) · kw deski (to acquire knowledge or ability) · om barachuu (to acquire knowledge or ability) · cs učit se (to attend educational activity) · hy կրթվել (to attend educational activity) · ky үйрөнүү (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ar اِعْتَبَرَ (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · eo studi (to be studying) · xal сурх (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hu tanul (to attend educational activity) · pt aprender (to be studying) · it studiare (to be studying) · ruo ănmeţå (to acquire knowledge or ability) · th เรียนรู้ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · blt ꪵꪮꪚ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · et omandama (to acquire knowledge or ability) · kmr fêr bûn (to acquire knowledge or ability) · is nema (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hu megtud (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · nl leren (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fr étudier (to be studying) · eo instruiĝi (to acquire knowledge or ability) · de studieren (to attend educational activity) · it imparare (to make use of a bad experience) · cs učit se (to be studying) · it scoprire (to acquire knowledge or ability) · kmr hîn bûn (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ary تعلم (to make use of a bad experience) · bn শেখা (to acquire knowledge or ability) · uk вчи́тися (to attend educational activity) · nl studeren (to be studying) · sga múinid do (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ln ekola (to acquire knowledge or ability) · da lære (to acquire knowledge or ability) · haw aʻo (to acquire knowledge or ability) · mnc ᡨᠠᠴᡳᠮᠪᡳ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · de erfahren (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · no lære (to acquire knowledge or ability) · kmr hîn bûn (to make use of a bad experience) · kmr xwandin (to attend educational activity) · mi ako (to acquire knowledge or ability) · la sciscō (to acquire knowledge or ability) · oc aprendre (to acquire knowledge or ability) · hu tanul (to be studying) · fj vuli (to acquire knowledge or ability) · az öyrənmək (to acquire knowledge or ability) · dsb wuknuś (to acquire knowledge or ability) · kmr xwendin (to attend educational activity) · cmn 學習 /学习 (to acquire knowledge or ability) · qu yachay (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ary قرا (to be studying) · el μαθαίνω (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · br deskiñ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · tzm ⵍⵎⴷ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · la disco (to make use of a bad experience) · cy dysgu (to acquire knowledge or ability) · bo སློབ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · srn leri (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ary تعلم (to acquire knowledge or ability) · eo ekscii (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · fr apprendre (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · fro aprandre (to acquire knowledge or ability) · is læra (to acquire knowledge or ability) · th เรียน (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fr étudier (to acquire knowledge or ability) · aho 𑜇𑜢𑜤𑜀𑜫 (to acquire knowledge or ability) · lv mācīties (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ko 배우다 (to acquire knowledge or ability) · sh naučiti (to acquire knowledge or ability) · cs dozvědět se (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · uk навчи́тися (to acquire knowledge or ability) · kmr hay jê bûn (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · swb ufundria (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ar اِتَّعَظَ (to make use of a bad experience) · kmr jê haydar bûn (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · cs zlepšovat se (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · fi oppia (to acquire knowledge or ability) · my သင် (to acquire knowledge or ability) · la rescisco (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · cmn 學 /学 (to attend educational activity) · ary قرا (to attend educational activity) · ckb فێربوون (to acquire knowledge or ability) · uk навча́тися (to attend educational activity) · mr शिकणे (to make use of a bad experience) · kmr xwendin (to be studying) · ca aprendre (to acquire knowledge or ability) · tg омӯхтан (to acquire knowledge or ability) · nl te weten komen (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · ba һабаҡ алыу (to make use of a bad experience) · lo ຮຽນຮູ້ (to acquire knowledge or ability) · lt mokytis (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ru учи́ть (to acquire knowledge or ability) · av цӏалдезе (to acquire knowledge or ability) · mi ako (to be studying) · uk навча́тися (to acquire knowledge or ability) · uk вчи́ти (to attend educational activity) · da lære (to be studying) · ady еджэ́н (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ja 勉強する (to attend educational activity) · kw dyski (to acquire knowledge or ability) · bg узнавам (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · cs zdokonalovat se (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · te తెలుసుకొను (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · bg изучавам (to be studying) · it imparare (to attend educational activity) · fi opiskella (to attend educational activity) · so barasho (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ast aprender (to acquire knowledge or ability) · pt aprender (to acquire knowledge or ability) · gd ionnsaich (to be studying) · da studere (to be studying) · mn сурах (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ro învăța (to be studying) · hy իմանալ (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · sk učiť sa (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · yi לערנען זיך (to acquire knowledge or ability) · eo informiĝi (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · sw -jifunza (to acquire knowledge or ability) · yue 學 /学 (to acquire knowledge or ability) · am መማር (to acquire knowledge or ability) · ba уҡыу (to attend educational activity) · tg ёд гирифтан (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fy studearre (to be studying) · eo instruiĝi (to make use of a bad experience) · la resciscō (to acquire knowledge or ability) · cs poučit se (to make use of a bad experience) · gcr anprann (to acquire knowledge or ability) · la discō (to acquire knowledge or ability) · fr apprendre (to make use of a bad experience) · jv sinau (to acquire knowledge or ability) · lbe лахьхьин (to acquire knowledge or ability) · es aprender (to acquire knowledge or ability) · cmn 學 /学 (to acquire knowledge or ability) · nl vernemen (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · wa aprinde (to make use of a bad experience) · eu ikasi (to be studying) · la studeo (to be studying) · et õppima (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out) · cs učit se (to make use of a bad experience) · shn ႁဵၼ်း (to acquire knowledge or ability) · pl uczyć się (to be studying) · ga foghlaim (to acquire knowledge or ability) · la disco (to gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve) · es enterarse (to come to know; to become informed of; to find out)