German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Honest" in German: ehrlich
ehrlich
Honest in German is ehrlich. Sei ehrlich asks for honesty. Ehrlich gesagt means “to be honest.”
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How to pronounce ehrlich
Say it
AIR-likh
/ˈeːɐlɪç/
AIR-likh. Soft eh. Soft ch. Stress first syllable.
"Honest" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ehrlich | honest Core adjective. | Core adjective. |
| sei ehrlich | be honest Direct request. | Direct request. |
| ehrlich gesagt | to be honest Opinion opener. | Opinion opener. |
| sehr ehrlich | very honest Emphasis. | Emphasis. |
How to use ehrlich in real life
- 1Feedback
Sei ehrlich — war der Vortrag gut?
Be honest — was the talk good?
Sei ehrlich.
- 2Opinion
Ehrlich gesagt mag ich den Film nicht.
To be honest I do not like the movie.
Ehrlich gesagt.
- 3Praise
Du bist immer ehrlich zu mir.
You are always honest with me.
Ehrlich.
Mistakes English speakers make with ehrlich
Incorrect: honest auf Deutsch: honest
Correct: ehrlich
Use ehrlich.
Incorrect: ehrliche gesagt
Correct: ehrlich gesagt
The set phrase is ehrlich gesagt.
Good to know
Ehrlich währt am längsten is a proverb: honesty lasts longest. Germans often signal bluntness with ehrlich gesagt before a critique.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a gift
ChatPal
Sei ehrlich: zu kitschig?
Be honest: too tacky?
You
Ehrlich? Ja, ein bisschen.
Honestly? Yes, a little.
ChatPal
Danke, dass du ehrlich bist.
Thanks for being honest.
You
Immer. Ehrlich gesagt wäre Schokolade besser.
Always. To be honest chocolate would be better.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Honest" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Honest" in German
How do you say honest?
Ehrlich.
Be honest?
Sei ehrlich.
To be honest…?
Ehrlich gesagt…
Honestly as a reaction?
Ehrlich?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
