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A2 verb #3,000 الأكثر شيوعاً 8 دقيقة للقراءة

ernähren

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح ernähren في 30 ثانية
الشرح ernähren in your Level:
At the A1 level, you should know that 'ernähren' is related to food. You might see it in very simple sentences about healthy eating. The most important thing to remember is the reflexive form 'sich ernähren'. Think of it as a more formal way to say 'what I eat'. For example, 'Ich esse viel Gemüse' (I eat many vegetables) is similar to 'Ich ernähre mich gesund' (I eat healthily). You don't need to worry about the complex financial meanings yet. Just focus on the idea of 'nutrition'. If you see 'Ernährung' on a food package, it means 'nutrition'. It's a regular verb, so it follows the standard patterns you've learned for verbs like 'machen' or 'lernen'.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
At A2, you start using 'ernähren' to describe your lifestyle and your family responsibilities. You should be able to say 'Ich ernähre mich vegetarisch' (I am a vegetarian/I eat a vegetarian diet). You also learn the transitive use: 'Er ernährt seine Familie' (He supports/feeds his family). This is a common way to talk about work and home life. You will notice the preposition 'von' used with this verb: 'Vögel ernähren sich von Insekten' (Birds feed on insects). This level requires you to distinguish between the physical act of eating (essen) and the general habit of nutrition (ernähren). You should also be familiar with the noun 'die Ernährung' (nutrition/diet).
At the B1 level, you use 'ernähren' in more detailed discussions about health, the environment, and social issues. You can talk about 'ausgewogene Ernährung' (balanced diet) and 'Fehlernährung' (malnutrition). You should be comfortable using the verb in different tenses, including the Perfekt ('Er hat sich jahrelang ungesund ernährt'). You will also encounter the verb in passive constructions, such as 'Wie kann die wachsende Weltbevölkerung ernährt werden?' (How can the growing world population be fed?). This level expects you to understand the word in context, such as in newspaper articles about organic food or economic reports about poverty.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
At B2, 'ernähren' becomes a tool for scientific and sociological analysis. You will use it to discuss 'Welternährung' (global nutrition) and the 'Ernährungsindustrie' (food industry). You should understand the nuances between 'ernähren', 'verpflegen', and 'unterhalten'. You might read academic texts about how certain nutrients 'nourish' the body at a cellular level. Your vocabulary should include related terms like 'Nährwert' (nutritional value) and 'Nahrungsergänzungsmittel' (dietary supplements). You are expected to use the verb fluently in debates about ethics, such as whether it is possible to 'ernähren' the world without factory farming.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
At the C1 level, you explore the metaphorical and highly formal uses of 'ernähren'. While 'nähren' is more common for abstract concepts, 'ernähren' can appear in complex legal or economic texts regarding 'Unterhaltspflichten' (maintenance obligations). You will understand subtle stylistic choices—why an author might choose 'sich ernähren' over 'essen' to convey a sense of discipline or biological necessity. You can analyze the socio-political implications of 'Ernährungssouveränität' (food sovereignty). Your mastery of the verb allows you to use it in sophisticated arguments about the intersection of health, economics, and personal identity.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
At C2, you have a near-native grasp of 'ernähren' in all its forms. You can appreciate its use in classical literature and modern technical journals. You understand the historical evolution of the word from its Old High German roots. You can use it in high-level discussions about bio-ethics, global resource management, and philosophy. Whether it's a discussion on how a specific ideology 'nourishes' a movement or a technical breakdown of metabolic processes, you use the verb and its derivatives with precision. You are also aware of rare idiomatic expressions and can play with the word's meaning in creative writing or oratory.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح

ernähren في 30 ثانية

  • Ernähren is a verb meaning to nourish, feed, or support financially.
  • Use 'sich ernähren' to talk about your personal diet and eating habits.
  • Use 'jemanden ernähren' to say you are providing for a family or group.
  • It is a regular (weak) verb: ernähren, ernährte, hat ernährt.

The German verb ernähren is a fundamental pillar of the German language, particularly when discussing biology, sociology, and personal health. At its core, it describes the act of providing sustenance, but its application varies significantly depending on whether it is used transitively or reflexively. When used transitively, jemanden ernähren, it means to provide someone with food or the financial means to survive. This is often heard in the context of a parent supporting a family. When used reflexively, sich ernähren, it refers to one's own dietary habits—how one chooses to eat.

Physical Sustenance
The literal act of eating or feeding to maintain life and growth.
Financial Support
The ability to earn enough money to pay for the basic needs of a household.
Biological Process
How organisms absorb nutrients from their environment.

"Es ist heutzutage gar nicht so einfach, eine fünfköpfige Familie allein zu ernähren."

— Common economic observation

In a deeper sense, ernähren touches upon the concept of 'Nahrung' (nourishment). It isn't just about calories; it's about the quality of life. In modern German, the reflexive form is ubiquitous in discussions about veganism, vegetarianism, and 'bewusste Ernährung' (conscious nutrition). If you say 'Ich ernähre mich vegan', you are describing a lifestyle choice, not just a single meal. This distinction is crucial for learners to grasp early on.

Pflanzen ernähren sich durch Photosynthese.

Metaphorical Use
One can 'nourish' a hope or a thought, though 'nähren' is more common for abstract concepts.

Er ernährt seine Kinder mit viel Liebe und gesundem Essen.

Furthermore, the word carries a weight of responsibility. To 'ernähren' someone implies a duty of care. Historically, the 'Ernährer' was the breadwinner of the family. While gender roles have evolved, the verb remains the standard way to describe the economic support of dependents. In biological contexts, it describes the trophic levels of animals—how predators and prey sustain themselves within an ecosystem.

Using ernähren correctly requires an understanding of German sentence structure and the role of reflexive pronouns. Let's break down the two primary ways this verb functions in daily speech and formal writing. This verb follows a regular conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy to master once the conceptual hurdles are cleared.

1. The Reflexive Form: sich ernähren

When you want to talk about how you eat, you must use the reflexive pronoun (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich). This is usually followed by an adverb or a prepositional phrase starting with 'von'.

  • Adverbial: "Ich ernähre mich gesund." (I eat healthily.)
  • Prepositional: "Eichhörnchen ernähren sich von Nüssen." (Squirrels feed on nuts.)

Wie ernährst du dich normalerweise im Urlaub?

2. The Transitive Form: jemanden ernähren

In this context, the verb takes a direct object in the accusative case. It means to provide for someone's survival. This can be literal (giving food) or financial (providing the means to buy food).

Der Bauer ernährt das ganze Dorf mit seinem Getreide.

Grammar Note
Ernähren is a weak verb: ernähren (present), ernährte (past), hat ernährt (perfect).

In professional settings, you might encounter the term 'Ernährungswissenschaft' (nutritional science). When discussing public health, politicians often speak about 'die Bevölkerung zu ernähren' (to feed the population), especially in the context of global food security. In these instances, the verb takes on a massive scale, moving from the kitchen table to the global stage.

Finally, consider the passive voice. "Die Weltbevölkerung muss ernährt werden." (The world population must be fed.) This is a common construction in academic and journalistic German. It emphasizes the necessity of the action rather than the agent performing it.

You will encounter ernähren in a variety of environments, ranging from the doctor's office to the evening news. Because food and money are central to human existence, this verb is indispensable. Here are the most common scenarios where you will hear or read it.

At the Doctor or Nutritionist

If you visit a 'Hausarzt' (GP) in Germany, they might ask about your 'Ernährungsgewohnheiten' (eating habits). They will use the reflexive form to inquire about your diet.

"Sie sollten sich ausgewogener ernähren, um Ihren Blutdruck zu senken."

In News and Documentaries

Documentaries about nature frequently use the verb to describe animal behavior. "Wovon ernährt sich der Blauwal?" (What does the blue whale feed on?). In economic news, you'll hear it regarding the 'Hauptverdienst' (main income) of a household.

Economic Context
"Viele Menschen können ihre Familien kaum noch ernähren." (Many people can hardly support their families anymore.)

In Social Media and Lifestyle Blogs

The 'Fitness-Szene' in Germany is huge. Influencers constantly talk about 'Clean Eating' or how they 'sich ernähren'. You'll see hashtags like #gesundernähren or #bewussternähren.

In literature, the word can take on a more poetic tone. A poet might write about how the earth 'nourishes' the trees, or how a soul is 'nourished' by art. However, in these cases, the shorter form 'nähren' is often preferred for its rhythmic quality. In everyday modern German, stick to 'ernähren' for practical matters of food and finance.

Even advanced learners sometimes stumble with ernähren. The mistakes usually fall into three categories: reflexive confusion, preposition errors, and semantic mix-ups with 'füttern'.

1. Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun

If you say "Ich ernähre gesund," it sounds like you are a personified health-food provider feeding the world. You must include 'mich'.

Wrong: Ich ernähre vegetarisch.
Right: Ich ernähre mich vegetarisch.

2. Using the Wrong Preposition

When specifying what someone eats to survive, the preposition is always von + Dative. Learners often try to use 'mit' or 'durch', which are less natural in this specific context.

The 'Von' Rule
"Er ernährt sich von Luft und Liebe." (An idiom meaning he lives on nothing but air and love.)

3. Ernähren vs. Füttern

Füttern is used for animals or babies—the physical act of putting food into a mouth. Ernähren is the broader concept of providing nutrition. You don't 'ernähren' your dog in the morning; you 'füttern' him. However, the dog 'ernährt sich' (feeds itself) on meat.

Another common mistake is confusing 'ernähren' with 'unterstützen' (to support). While 'ernähren' can mean financial support, it is strictly limited to the basic necessities of life (food, shelter). You wouldn't use 'ernähren' to say you support a political party or a friend's emotional state.

To truly master ernähren, you should understand its relationship with other words in the 'food and support' semantic field. German is rich with specific verbs for these actions.

1. Nähren

This is the root verb. It is more abstract and often used for feelings or physical processes. "Der Zweifel nährt die Angst." (Doubt nourishes fear.) It is rarely used for daily eating habits anymore.

2. Verpflegen

This means to provide catering or provisions, often for a group. You hear this in the military, at conferences, or in hospitals. "Die Gäste wurden bestens verpflegt." (The guests were well provided for.)

Verpflegung vs. Ernährung
Verpflegung is the logistics of providing food; Ernährung is the biological/lifestyle aspect of consuming it.

3. Unterhalten

While usually meaning 'to entertain' or 'to converse', in a legal or formal context, it can mean to provide financial maintenance (Unterhalt). "Er muss für seine Kinder Unterhalt zahlen."

Synonym check: beköstigen (to board/feed guests), speisen (to dine - very formal), füttern (to feed animals/babies).

In summary, choose ernähren when talking about the system of eating or the responsibility of providing for a family. Use füttern for the act of feeding, and verpflegen for the service of providing meals to others.

How Formal Is It?

دليل النطق

يتقافى مع
erklären, gewähren

مستوى الصعوبة

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Reflexive Pronouns in Accusative

Preposition 'von' with Dative

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

Word formation with the suffix -ung

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

Ich ernähre mich gesund.

I eat healthily.

Reflexive verb 'sich ernähren'.

2

Er ernährt sich von Obst.

He feeds on fruit.

Preposition 'von' + Dative.

3

Wir ernähren uns gut.

We eat well.

First person plural reflexive.

4

Ernährst du dich vegetarisch?

Do you eat a vegetarian diet?

Question form.

5

Meine Katze ernährt sich von Fleisch.

My cat feeds on meat.

Third person singular.

6

Sie ernähren sich schlecht.

They eat poorly.

Adverbial use.

7

Das Baby ernährt sich von Milch.

The baby feeds on milk.

Biological fact.

8

Obst und Gemüse ernähren uns.

Fruit and vegetables nourish us.

Transitive use.

1

Er muss seine große Familie ernähren.

He has to support his large family.

Modal verb + infinitive.

2

Wie ernähren sich Sportler?

How do athletes eat?

Reflexive question.

3

Ich möchte mich bewusster ernähren.

I want to eat more consciously.

Comparative adverb.

4

Diese Tiere ernähren sich nur von Pflanzen.

These animals only feed on plants.

Restrictive 'nur'.

5

Es ist teuer, sich gesund zu ernähren.

It is expensive to eat healthily.

Infinitiv mit 'zu'.

6

Mein Vater hat uns allein ernährt.

My father supported us alone.

Perfekt tense.

7

Zucker ist nicht gut, wenn man sich gesund ernähren will.

Sugar is not good if you want to eat healthily.

Subordinate clause with 'wenn'.

8

Die Bauern ernähren die Stadt.

The farmers feed the city.

Transitive use.

1

Eine ausgewogene Ernährung ist wichtig.

A balanced diet is important.

Noun derivative 'Ernährung'.

2

Viele Menschen ernähren sich heutzutage vegan.

Many people eat a vegan diet nowadays.

Modern lifestyle context.

3

Er konnte seine Familie kaum noch ernähren.

He could hardly support his family anymore.

Präteritum of modal verb.

4

Wovon ernähren sich Wale eigentlich?

What do whales actually feed on?

Pronominal adverb 'wovon'.

5

Sich gesund zu ernähren, erfordert Disziplin.

Eating healthily requires discipline.

Gerund-like infinitive phrase.

6

Die Organisation hilft, Kinder in Not zu ernähren.

The organization helps to feed children in need.

Transitive infinitive.

7

Früher ernährten sich die Menschen von dem, was sie jagten.

In the past, people lived on what they hunted.

Präteritum reflexive.

8

Man sollte sich nicht nur von Fast Food ernähren.

One should not live only on fast food.

Passive-like 'man' construction.

1

Die Weltbevölkerung nachhaltig zu ernähren, ist eine Herausforderung.

Feeding the world population sustainably is a challenge.

Adverbial 'nachhaltig'.

2

Einige Insekten ernähren sich von Holz.

Some insects feed on wood.

Biological specificity.

3

Er ernährte seine Zweifel durch ständiges Grübeln.

He nourished his doubts through constant brooding.

Metaphorical transitive use.

4

Die Studie untersucht, wie sich Jugendliche ernähren.

The study examines how teenagers eat.

Indirect question clause.

5

Es ist schwierig, mit einem Mindestlohn eine Familie zu ernähren.

It is difficult to support a family on a minimum wage.

Socio-economic context.

6

Pflanzen ernähren sich mineralisch.

Plants nourish themselves through minerals.

Technical adverb.

7

Wer sich einseitig ernährt, bekommt Mangelerscheinungen.

Whoever eats a one-sided diet gets deficiency symptoms.

Conditional relative clause.

8

Die Industrie muss Wege finden, uns gesünder zu ernähren.

The industry must find ways to feed us more healthily.

Transitive with direct object 'uns'.

1

Die Legende ernährt sich von der Fantasie der Menschen.

The legend feeds on the imagination of the people.

Abstract reflexive use.

2

Er sah sich außerstande, seine Angehörigen zu ernähren.

He found himself unable to support his relatives.

High-level idiom 'außerstande sein'.

3

Sich rein pflanzlich zu ernähren, ist eine ethische Entscheidung.

To eat a purely plant-based diet is an ethical decision.

Adverbial 'rein pflanzlich'.

4

Die Parasiten ernähren sich vom Wirt.

The parasites feed on the host.

Biological terminology.

5

In Krisenzeiten ist es schwer, die Bevölkerung zu ernähren.

In times of crisis, it is hard to feed the population.

Political/Economic context.

6

Die Hoffnung ernährt den Mut.

Hope nourishes courage.

Poetic transitive use.

7

Das Unternehmen ernährt hunderte von Mitarbeitern.

The company supports hundreds of employees.

Corporate metaphor.

8

Man muss sich geistig ebenso wie körperlich ernähren.

One must nourish oneself mentally as well as physically.

Philosophical comparison.

1

Die autotrophe Lebensweise erlaubt es Pflanzen, sich selbst zu ernähren.

The autotrophic way of life allows plants to feed themselves.

Scientific terminology.

2

Er ernährte seinen Groll über Jahre hinweg.

He nursed his resentment for years.

Abstract emotional use.

3

Die Frage, wie wir neun Milliarden Menschen ernähren, ist existenziell.

The question of how we feed nine billion people is existential.

Complex noun-clause structure.

4

Sich von den Früchten seiner Arbeit zu ernähren, ist ein hohes Gut.

To live off the fruits of one's labor is a great asset.

Metaphorical idiom.

5

Die karge Landschaft vermochte kaum jemanden zu ernähren.

The barren landscape was hardly able to support anyone.

Literary 'vermögen'.

6

Die Theorie ernährt sich von empirischen Daten.

The theory feeds on empirical data.

Epistemological metaphor.

7

Es gilt, die Weltbevölkerung ohne Raubbau zu ernähren.

The goal is to feed the world population without exploitation.

Formal 'es gilt' construction.

8

Sich asketisch zu ernähren, war Teil seiner Philosophie.

To eat ascetically was part of his philosophy.

High-level vocabulary 'asketisch'.

تلازمات شائعة

sich gesund ernähren
eine Familie ernähren
sich vegan ernähren
sich ausgewogen ernähren
sich von Pflanzen ernähren
die Weltbevölkerung ernähren
sich bewusst ernähren
jemanden mühsam ernähren
sich einseitig ernähren
sich karg ernähren

العبارات الشائعة

sich von Luft und Liebe ernähren
seine Familie ernähren müssen
gut ernährt sein
schlecht ernährt sein
sich gesund und fit ernähren
jemanden mit durchfüttern (colloquial)
die Hand, die einen ernährt
sich von seinen Ersparnissen ernähren
sich von Rohkost ernähren
jemanden anständig ernähren

يُخلط عادةً مع

ernähren vs essen

ernähren vs füttern

ernähren vs nähren

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"Sich von Luft und Liebe ernähren (To live on nothing but air and love)"
"Wes Brot ich ess, des Lied ich sing (I support the one who feeds me)"
"Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul (Related to provision)"
"Den Gürtel enger schnallen (When you can't feed yourself well)"
"Jemandem das Brot aus dem Mund nehmen (To take away someone's livelihood)"
"Sein Gnadenbrot essen (To live on a small pension/charity in old age)"
"Vom Fleisch fallen (To become very thin due to poor nutrition)"
"Sich die Butter nicht vom Brot nehmen lassen (To defend one's livelihood)"
"In Lohn und Brot stehen (To have a job that feeds you)"
"Eigene Brötchen backen (To be independent)"

سهل الخلط

ernähren vs füttern

Used for animals or babies; the physical act of giving food.

ernähren vs nähren

More abstract or poetic; used for feelings or biological growth.

ernähren vs verpflegen

To provide meals as a service (e.g., in a hotel).

ernähren vs unterhalten

To support financially in a legal sense (alimony).

ernähren vs speisen

To dine (very formal).

أنماط الجُمل

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة

كيفية الاستخدام

reflexive

Always requires an object or adverb.

transitive

Implies full responsibility for someone's survival.

أخطاء شائعة
  • Forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'sich'.
  • Using 'füttern' for adults.
  • Using the wrong preposition (e.g., 'mit' instead of 'von').
  • Confusing 'ernähren' with 'erziehen' (to raise/educate).
  • Misspelling the 'ä' as 'e'.

نصائح

Healthy Habits

Learn the phrase 'sich ausgewogen ernähren' to sound more advanced when talking about health.

Reflexive Pronouns

Practice the reflexive pronouns in the accusative case: mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich.

Bio-Markets

In Germany, people who 'sich gesund ernähren' often shop at 'Bio-Märkten' like Alnatura or Denn's.

Photosynthesis

In biology class, you will hear: 'Pflanzen ernähren sich durch Photosynthese'.

Breadwinner

The word 'Ernährer' is the traditional word for breadwinner.

Fluency

Try to use 'sich ernähren' instead of 'essen' when talking about your general diet.

Essays

In essays about the environment, use 'die Weltbevölkerung ernähren' as a key phrase.

Context Clues

If you hear 'von', expect a noun like 'Fleisch', 'Gemüse', or 'Pflanzen' to follow.

Root Word

Remember: Nahrung (food) -> ernähren (to feed).

No 'mit'

Don't say 'ernähren mit Fleisch', say 'ernähren von Fleisch'.

احفظها

أصل الكلمة

السياق الثقافي

Berlin is often called the vegan capital of Europe.

Germany has one of the largest markets for organic food in the world.

The state 'ernährt' (supports) those who cannot work through the social system.

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

بدايات محادثة

"Wie ernährst du dich am liebsten?"

"Ist es in deinem Land teuer, sich gesund zu ernähren?"

"Was denkst du über vegane Ernährung?"

"Wie hat sich deine Ernährung im letzten Jahr verändert?"

"Wer ernährt in deiner Familie die meisten Personen?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Beschreibe deine tägliche Ernährung.

Warum ist es wichtig, sich ausgewogen zu ernähren?

Wie würde sich die Welt verändern, wenn sich alle vegan ernähren würden?

Was bedeutet es für dich, eine Familie zu ernähren?

Schreibe über ein Tier und wie es sich in der Natur ernährt.

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

Essen ist die einzelne Handlung. Sich ernähren beschreibt die allgemeine Gewohnheit oder Diät über einen längeren Zeitraum.

Ja, das bedeutet, dass du für sein Futter bezahlst und auf seine Gesundheit achtest. Aber wenn du ihm gerade das Futter gibst, sagst du 'Ich füttere meinen Hund'.

Nein, es ist ein schwaches (regelmäßiges) Verb: ernähren, ernährte, hat ernährt.

Die wichtigste Präposition ist 'von' + Dativ, um zu sagen, was man isst (z.B. 'von Nüssen ernähren').

Das ist eine Person, die das gesamte Geld für die Familie verdient und alle Familienmitglieder allein ernährt.

Das ist eine Redewendung. Es bedeutet, dass man so verliebt ist, dass man kein Essen braucht (metaphorisch).

Man sagt 'eine Familie ernähren'.

Ja, alle Wörter auf -ung sind im Deutschen feminin: die Ernährung.

Das bedeutet, dass man sich falsch oder ungesund ernährt, sodass der Körper nicht genug Vitamine bekommt.

Ja, zum Beispiel 'ernährt' (gut ernährt) oder 'nahrhaft' (nahrhaftes Essen).

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/ 180 correct

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