01
hölzern
wooden
Made from the material wood.
example
Der alte Tisch hatte eine massive, hölzerne Platte.
The old table had a solid wooden top.
hölzern
wooden
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
'Hölzern' (wooden) is formed from the noun 'das Holz' (wood) and the ending '-ern'. The ending '-ern' is often used for adjectives that describe a material, such as 'golden' (golden) or 'eisern' (iron).
EXAMPLE
Die Kirche hatte eine alte, hölzerne Tür.
The church had an old wooden door.
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that the sentence is not about an object, but about a person, their behavior, or their language. It then describes something stiff and unnatural.
EXAMPLE
Seine Entschuldigung klang sehr hölzern und nicht ehrlich.
His apology sounded very wooden and not sincere.
Typical collocations
In the figurative meaning, 'hölzern' (wooden) is often combined with verbs like 'wirken' (to seem) or 'klingen' (to sound). Nouns like 'Bewegungen' (movements), 'Sprache' (language/speech), or 'Stil' (style) are also typical.
EXAMPLE
Der Politiker wirkte in dem Interview sehr hölzern.
The politician seemed very wooden in the interview.
Compare with
hölzern vs natürlich
natural / of course
'natürlich' and 'hölzern' are opposites when it comes to behavior, language, or movements. 'natürlich' means that something seems relaxed, normal, and genuine. 'hölzern' means that something seems stiff, awkward, or unnatural. 'natürlich' fits, for example, with free speaking or a relaxed manner. 'hölzern' is more often used when someone speaks insecurely, moves stiffly, or a text sounds lifeless.
hölzern
Vor der Kamera wirkt der Fahrer noch etwas hölzern.
In front of the camera, the driver still seems a little wooden.
natürlich
Bei der Präsentation hat sie frei und natürlich gesprochen.
At the presentation, she spoke freely and naturally.
In real life
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