ernsthaft

serious, earnest

adjective ERNST-haft Rare

Also means

sincere, genuine

Usage Note

Ernsthaft can describe a person's demeanour (serious, not flippant) or the nature of a commitment (eine ernsthafte Absicht = a genuine intention). It is neutral to positive and highly versatile; learners will encounter it constantly in formal and informal German.

Examples

"Er ist ein ernsthafter Schüler, der wirklich verstehen möchte."

Natural Translation

He is a serious student who genuinely wants to understand.

Literal Translation

He is an earnest pupil, who really understand wants.

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