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harmlos
harmless
Not dangerous or harmful to someone or something.
example
Die Spinne sieht zwar groß aus, ist aber völlig harmlos.
The spider may look big, but it is completely harmless.
harmlos
harmless
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The adjective is made up of the old word 'Harm' (grief, harm) and the ending '-los' (without). Something that is 'harmlos' (harmless) is therefore literally 'without harm'.
EXAMPLE
Zum Glück war der Unfall harmlos und niemand wurde verletzt.
Fortunately, the accident was harmless and no one was injured.
Meaning in context
The exact meaning of 'harmlos' (harmless) depends heavily on the noun. In relation to things or animals, it means 'ungefährlich' (not dangerous); with statements, 'belanglos' (trivial); and with people, 'gutmütig' (good-natured) or 'naiv' (naive).
EXAMPLE
Die Chemikalie ist in kleinen Mengen harmlos.
The chemical is harmless in small amounts.
Typical intensifiers
When danger is involved, 'harmlos' (harmless) is often intensified with adverbs such as 'völlig' (completely), 'absolut' (absolutely), or 'vergleichsweise' (comparatively) to emphasize the lack of danger.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt versicherte mir, dass der Eingriff völlig harmlos sei.
The doctor assured me that the procedure was completely harmless.
Use for statements
In the context of communication, 'harmlos' (harmless) often describes a question, joke, or remark that is not meant to hurt or provoke.
EXAMPLE
Es war doch nur eine harmlose Frage, nimm es nicht persönlich.
It was just a harmless question; don't take it personally.
Compare with
harmlos vs ernst
serious
'ernst' and 'harmlos' are often opposites when it comes to danger or importance. 'ernst' then means that something is important, dangerous, or worrying. 'harmlos' means that something is not dangerous or has no major consequences. You can describe an injury, an illness, or a situation this way, for example. If something is 'ernst', you should pay attention to it. If something is 'harmlos', you usually do not need to worry much.
harmlos
Der rote Fleck auf der Haut war zum Glück harmlos.
Fortunately, the red spot on the skin was harmless.
ernst
Der Arzt sagte, dass die Entzündung ernst ist und sofort behandelt werden muss.
The doctor said that the inflammation is serious and must be treated immediately.
In real life
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