German word

sehr

Pronunciation

IPA/zeːɐ̯/

Meaning

  • adverbvery

Example

Das ist sehr gut.

That is very good.

Illustration for sehr (very)

More examples

Das ist sehr teuer.

That is very expensive.

Core concept

An intensity dial pushed well above its usual setting.

Common phrases

  • sehr teuer

    very expensive

  • sehr hilfreich

    very helpful

Similar words

wirklich: Used to stress that something is genuinely true or certain.
viel: In a great quantity or to a considerable extent.
ziemlich: To a relatively high degree, without suggesting an extreme.

Definition in German

in hohem Maße; stärker oder intensiver als üblich

Word origin

German sehr comes from Old High German sēri and Middle High German sêre, originally meaning intensely or severely before becoming a general degree adverb.

Usage tips

  • German uses sehr with adjectives and adverbs, but comparative forms normally take viel, as in viel besser rather than sehr besser.

Other meanings

  • muchadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word