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ernst

"ernst" means "serious, severe, grave" in German. It is number 525 on the frequency list, in A2 (adj).

Meaning

serious, severe, grave

IPA

/ɛʁnst/

Level

A2

Practice this word

Updated October 21, 2026

Example sentences

• Im Ernst?
  Really?
  Tatoeba: Sudajaengi / kotobaboke
• Sei ernst.
  Be serious.
  Tatoeba: Adelpa / CK
• Ist es ernst?
  Is it something serious?
  Tatoeba: Pfirsichbaeumchen / CK

Learned together

In the course, "ernst" is in the same group as these words. You master them as a set.

• anders different, differently
• wenig little, few
• nett nice
• deshalb therefore
• bestimmt certain
• hoch high, tall
• alt old
• niemals never
• manchmal sometimes

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