German Conversation · Level 152
29 words
German word
nähren
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈnɛːʁən/
Meaning
- verbfeed
Example
Die Mutter nährt das Baby.
The mother feeds the baby.
More examples
Faszinierende Bücher nähren die Neugier.
Fascinating books nourish curiosity.
Core concept
A source of food or support flows into a living thing or growing idea, sustaining it from within.
Common phrases
nährt die Neugier
nourishes curiosity
nährt die Seele
nourishes the soul
Similar words
füttern: To give food directly to a baby or animal.
ernähren: To provide enough nourishment to keep someone or an animal alive.
versorgen: To provide necessities or care that maintain daily life or safety.
pflegen: To give care or treatment that maintains health or condition.
Definition in German
jemanden oder etwas mit dem versorgen, was zum Leben, Wachsen oder Erhalten nötig ist, entweder durch Nahrung oder durch Unterstützung
Word origin
Nähren continues an older Germanic verb related to Nahrung and developed from the literal provision of food to broader forms of sustaining or fostering.
Usage tips
- Nähren is more formal and often more figurative than füttern, which commonly describes giving food to a baby or animal.
Other meanings
- nourishverb
- nurtureverb
Opposites
- verhungernstarve to deathverb
Related words
- Nährstoffmangelnutrient deficiencynoun
- Nährbodenfertile groundnoun