Ehrfurcht

awe

noun EHR-foorkht Rare

Also means

deep reverence

Usage Note

Ehrfurcht is profound awe or reverence, joining Ehre (honour) and Furcht (fear). Albert Schweitzer's Ehrfurcht vor dem Leben (reverence for life) is the best-known phrase. The adjective is ehrfürchtig. Uncountable.

Examples

"Mit Ehrfurcht betrat sie die alte Kathedrale."

Natural Translation

With awe she entered the ancient cathedral.

Literal Translation

With awe entered she the old cathedral.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

Tipping in Germany: A Visitor's Etiquette Guide

Tipping in Germany means saying your total out loud, not leaving coins. Learn the exact phrases, how much to tip, and the Sie-vs-du etiquette travelers need.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

How to Memorize German Vocabulary Fast

Memorize German vocabulary fast with a five-step workflow: drill the top 100 words, learn nouns with their article, color-code gender, and use spaced repetition

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Modal Particles: doch, mal, ja, eben

German modal particles doch, mal, ja, and eben add attitude, not meaning. Before/after examples show how to use each one so your German stops sounding stiff.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Adjective Endings Made Simple

German adjective endings come down to one question, not three tables: does the article already show gender and case? If yes, the adjective stays lazy.

June 5, 2026 6 min read