German Conversation · Level 31
90 words
German word
ernst
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛɐ̯nst/
Meaning
- adjectiveserious
Example
Er ist ernst.
He is serious.
More examples
Wenn du es ernst meinst, fang jetzt an.
If you mean it, start now.
Core concept
A matter-of-fact attitude that sets jokes aside and gives an issue full attention.
Common phrases
es ernst meinen
mean it
jemanden ernst nehmen
take someone seriously
etwas ernst nehmen
take something seriously
Similar words
ernsthaft: Genuinely meant or done, with no intention of joking.
seriös: Reliable and respectable in character or appearance.
sachlich: Expressing facts and content clearly without emotional language.
nüchtern: Composed and realistic, without emotional exaggeration.
Definition in German
So, dass etwas wichtig und ohne Spass behandelt wird; ernsthaft und nicht leichtsinnig.
Word origin
Ernst is an inherited Germanic word recorded as Old High German ernust and Middle High German ernest before reaching its modern German form.
Usage tips
- The noun "der Ernst" is capitalized, as in "Das ist mein Ernst," meaning that the statement is meant seriously.