German Conversation · Level 100
59 words
German word
ungern
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈʊngɛʁn/
Meaning
- adverbreluctantly
Example
Er nimmt das Geschenk ungern an.
He reluctantly accepts the gift.
More examples
Er musste die Verzögerungen ungern in Kauf nehmen.
He had to reluctantly accept the delays.
Core concept
The body complies with an action while the mind would prefer not to do it.
Common phrases
ungern in Kauf nehmen
reluctantly accept
ungern hinnehmen
reluctantly tolerate
Similar words
nicht gerne: Doing something without liking or enjoying it.
widerwillig: Doing something with clear reluctance or resistance.
Definition in German
Etwas gegen den eigenen Wunsch oder widerwillig tun.
Word origin
Gern comes from an inherited Germanic word for willingness or pleasure, and the prefix un- creates the contrary sense in ungern.
Usage tips
- Ungern can occur with separable verbs before the final particle, so "nimmt ... ungern an" keeps annehmen's particle at the end.
Other meanings
- grudginglyadverb
- unwillinglyadverb
Opposites
- gerngladlyadverb
- bereitwilligwillinglyadverb