German Conversation · Level 50
75 words
German word
hölzern
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈhœltsɐn/
Meaning
- adjectivewooden
Example
Der Stuhl ist hölzern.
The chair is made of wood.
More examples
Die alte Hütte hatte hölzerne Wände.
The old hut had wooden walls.
Core concept
A rigid wooden surface suggests movement or speech that feels stiff rather than natural and lively.
Common phrases
hölzerner Boden
wooden floor
hölzerne Tür
wooden door
hölzerne Brücke
wooden bridge
Similar words
stockend: Stopping and starting, so speech or movement does not flow smoothly.
steif: Rigid and unnatural, with little flexibility in expression or movement.
trocken: Matter-of-fact and restrained, with little emotional warmth.
monoton: Having little variation in tone or expression, making it dull.
Definition in German
Aus Holz bestehend; im bildlichen Gebrauch: an Bewegungen, Reden oder Texten steif und wenig lebendig.
Word origin
Hölzern is formed from Holz ('wood') with the adjective-forming suffix -ern, and its literal sense extended to stiff or lifeless expression.
Usage tips
- In attributive use, hölzern takes normal adjective endings, as in 'ein hölzerner Stuhl', but predicative use has no ending: 'Der Stuhl ist hölzern'.
Other meanings
- stiltedadjective
Opposites
- metallischmetallicadjective
Related words
- Holzwerkwoodworknoun
- Holzverarbeitungwoodworkingnoun