die Ermahnung
admonition
An earnest urging to do or refrain from doing something specific.
EXAMPLE
Die Ermahnung des Arztes, mehr Sport zu treiben, nahm sie ernst.
She took the doctor's admonition to exercise more seriously.
die Ermahnung
admonition / reprimand
die Ermahnung, die Ermahnungen
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Meanings
die Ermahnung
reprimand
A serious rebuke or expression of disapproval for a mistake or improper behavior.
EXAMPLE
Wegen seines wiederholten Zuspätkommens erhielt er eine schriftliche Ermahnung.
He received a written reprimand for his repeated lateness.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Ermahnung, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Ermahnungen |
| genitive | der Ermahnung |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Ermahnung | die Ermahnungen |
| accusative | die Ermahnung | die Ermahnungen |
| dative | der Ermahnung | den Ermahnungen |
| genitive | der Ermahnung | der Ermahnungen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word family
'Ermahnung' (admonition / reprimand) belongs to the word family of 'ermahnen' (to admonish) and refers to the statement or result of that action. Here, the suffix '-ung' forms a noun from the verb.
EXAMPLE
Seine Ermahnung blieb nicht ohne Wirkung.
His admonition had an effect.
Typical construction
When 'Ermahnung' (admonition) means an urging to do something, it is often followed by 'zu' with an infinitive. This usually specifies what someone should do or refrain from doing.
EXAMPLE
Die Ermahnung, beim Überqueren der Straße vorsichtiger zu sein, war berechtigt.
The admonition to be more careful when crossing the street was justified.
Context clue
The reprimand sense is often indicated by words such as 'schriftlich' (written), 'offiziell' (official), or 'wegen' (because of), along with a specific instance of misconduct. Typical phrases are 'eine Ermahnung erhalten' (to receive a reprimand) and 'eine Ermahnung aussprechen' (to issue a reprimand).
EXAMPLE
Nach mehreren Verstößen gegen die Hausordnung sprach die Leitung eine schriftliche Ermahnung aus.
After several violations of the house rules, management issued a written reprimand.
In real life
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