sich ernähren
to eat / to nourish oneself
To consume a particular kind of food; to have a particular diet.
EXAMPLE
Ich versuche, mich ausgewogen und gesund zu ernähren.
I'm trying to eat a balanced and healthy diet.
ernähren
to feed / to nourish
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Meanings
ernähren
to feed / to support
To provide a person, family, or animal with food and thus secure their livelihood.
EXAMPLE
Sie muss mit ihrem Einkommen eine vierköpfige Familie ernähren.
She has to support a family of four on her income.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'ernähren' (to feed / to nourish) is closely related to the noun 'die Nahrung' (food/nourishment). It literally means to provide someone or oneself with food.
EXAMPLE
Gute Nahrung ist wichtig, um den Körper gesund zu ernähren.
Good food is important for nourishing the body in a healthy way.
Reflexive vs. transitive
The use of the reflexive pronoun 'sich' changes the meaning. 'Sich ernähren' (to eat / to nourish oneself) describes one's own diet, while 'jemanden ernähren' (to feed/support someone) means to provide for another person's livelihood.
EXAMPLE
Er ernährt sich hauptsächlich von pflanzlichen Produkten.
He eats mainly plant-based products.
Preposition 'von'
To name the main food source, the construction 'sich ernähren von + dative' is used. This describes what the food mainly consists of.
EXAMPLE
Viele Vögel ernähren sich von Insekten und Würmern.
Many birds feed on insects and worms.
Typical adverbs
To describe the type of diet, 'sich ernähren' is often combined with adverbs such as 'gesund' (healthily), 'ausgewogen' (in a balanced way), 'vegetarisch' (vegetarian), or 'vegan' (vegan).
EXAMPLE
Seit einem Jahr ernährt sie sich komplett vegan.
She has been eating completely vegan for a year.
Compare with
ernähren vs sorgen
to take care / worry
Sorgen für and ernähren can both describe taking responsibility for providing for a family. Ernähren focuses on food or livelihood, while sorgen für refers to the broader responsibility for someone's well-being. Use ernähren when financial or material support is the focus, and sorgen für for general responsibility.
ernähren
Mit ihrer Arbeit ernährt sie ihre Familie.
She supports her family with her work.
sorgen
Als älteste Tochter sorgt sie für das Wohlergehen ihrer Familie.
As the eldest daughter, she looks after her family's well-being.
In real life
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