entmutigen
discourage
Jemandem den Mut oder die Lust nehmen, etwas weiterzumachen.
The German word "entmutigen" is a verb that means "to discourage". It is composed of the prefix "ent-" and the verb "mutigen," related to "Mut," which means "courage" or "bravery". Therefore, "entmutigen" literally translates to "to take away courage" or "to dishearten".
Similar words in German include "demotivieren" (to demotivate) and "niederschlagen" (to depress).
The difference between these words lies in their nuances:
- "Entmutigen" specifically focuses on diminishing someone's courage or resolve.
- "Demotivieren" implies a general reduction in motivation, not necessarily tied to courage.
- "Niederschlagen" conveys a deeper sense of dispiriting or bringing someone down emotionally.
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Examples
Lass dich nicht entmutigen.verb
Don't let yourself be discouraged.
Das schlechte Wetter entmutigte die Wanderer heute.verb
The bad weather discouraged the hikers today.
Die harten Bedingungen würden mich niemals entmutigen.verb
The harsh conditions would never discourage me.
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