die Ernährung
nutrition
The way in which a living being provides itself with food in order to live and stay healthy.
EXAMPLE
Eine ausgewogene Ernährung ist wichtig für die körperliche Fitness.
Balanced nutrition is important for physical fitness.
die Ernährung
nutrition / diet
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Meanings
die Ernährung
diet
The totality of the food that a person or animal consumes.
EXAMPLE
Die Ernährung von Koalas besteht fast ausschließlich aus Eukalyptusblättern.
The diet of koalas consists almost exclusively of eucalyptus leaves.
Usage tips
Word family
'Die Ernährung' (nutrition / diet) is the nominalization of the verb '(sich) ernähren' (to feed oneself / to eat). The ending '-ung' turns the action of nourishing into a noun.
EXAMPLE
Er ernährt sich seit Jahren vegetarisch.
He has been eating a vegetarian diet for years.
Common mistake
'Ernährung' (nutrition / diet) refers to the general way of eating in order to stay healthy. It is often incorrectly used for a short-term weight-loss diet.
EXAMPLE
Für meine Gesundheit stelle ich meine Ernährung um.
For my health, I'm changing my diet.
Typical adjectives
The word 'Ernährung' (nutrition) is very often combined with adjectives that describe the quality or type of food, e.g. 'gesund' (healthy), 'ausgewogen' (balanced), 'vegan' (vegan), or 'einseitig' (unbalanced / one-sided).
EXAMPLE
Viele Menschen achten heute auf eine gesunde Ernährung.
Many people today pay attention to healthy nutrition.
Usage pattern
When describing the food of animals, the structure 'Die Ernährung von [Tier] besteht aus ...' (The diet of [animal] consists of ...) is very typical.
EXAMPLE
Die Ernährung des Pandas besteht hauptsächlich aus Bambus.
The panda's diet consists mainly of bamboo.
Compare with
Ernährung vs Nahrung
food / nourishment
Both words refer to what a person takes in for life and health. „Ernährung“ refers more to the overall way or pattern of eating, while „Nahrung“ refers more to the actual food itself. Use „Ernährung“ for habits and „Nahrung“ for what is consumed.
Ernährung
Eine ausgewogene Ernährung hilft Kindern, gesund zu wachsen.
A balanced diet helps children grow up healthy.
Nahrung
Frisches Gemüse und Obst sind wichtige Nahrung für die Kinder.
Fresh vegetables and fruit are important food for the children.
In real life
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