encouragement
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encouragement
Actions or words that give someone courage, hope, or confidence. It is a form of positive reinforcement used to motivate or support someone.
Seine Worte waren eine große Ermutigung für das ganze Team.
His words were a great encouragement to the whole team.
The word is a nominalization of the verb 'ermutigen' (to encourage). It consists of the prefix 'er-', the root 'Mut' (courage), and the ending '-ung', which describes an action or its result. Literally, then, it is 'Mut-Gebung' (giving courage).
Deine Worte waren eine echte Ermutigung für mich.
Your words were real encouragement for me.
'Ermutigung' (encouragement) is often combined with verbs such as 'geben' (to give), 'bekommen' (to receive/get), 'brauchen' (to need), or 'finden' (to find). It describes something that one can actively give or passively receive.
In schwierigen Zeiten braucht man die Ermutigung von Freunden.
In difficult times, one needs encouragement from friends.
When you want to express what someone is being encouraged to do, use the preposition 'zu' followed by the dative. This describes the goal or purpose of the encouragement.
Das Lob war eine Ermutigung zu weiterer harter Arbeit.
The praise was an encouragement to keep working hard.
comfort / consolation
Trost and Ermutigung can both help a disappointed person regain confidence. Trost mainly eases current sorrow, while Ermutigung gives someone more courage to take action or keep going. For sadness, Trost is the right word; before trying again, Ermutigung is more appropriate.
Vor dem nächsten Wettkampf gab ihm die Ermutigung seiner Mannschaft den Mut zum Weitermachen.
Before the next competition, his team’s encouragement gave him the courage to keep going.
Nach der Niederlage spendete ihm der Trost seiner Mannschaft etwas Hoffnung.
After the defeat, the comfort he received from his team gave him some hope.
