mütterlich
motherly
Like a mother; especially caring, loving, and protective.
EXAMPLE
Sie kümmerte sich in mütterlicher Weise um das verängstigte Kind.
She cared for the frightened child in a motherly way.
mütterlich
motherly / maternal
mütterlich – mütterlicher – am mütterlichsten
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Meanings
mütterlich
maternal
Relating to or originating from the mother.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine mütterlichen Verwandten seit Jahren nicht mehr besucht.
He has not visited his maternal relatives for years.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry mütterlich, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | mütterlich |
|---|---|
| comparative | mütterlicher |
| superlative | am mütterlichsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to mütterlich.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to mütterlich.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to mütterlich.
Usage tips
Word family
'Mütterlich' (motherly / maternal) belongs to the word family of 'Mutter' (mother) and is clearly composed of the stem 'mütter-' and the ending '-lich'. Here, the ending forms an adjective that expresses a connection to the mother.
EXAMPLE
Ihre mütterliche Art fiel allen Gästen sofort auf.
Everyone immediately noticed her motherly manner.
Typical collocations
The caring meaning is often found in combinations such as 'mütterliche Fürsorge' (motherly care), 'mütterliche Liebe' (motherly love), 'mütterliche Wärme' (motherly warmth), and 'mütterlicher Schutz' (motherly protection). The adjective usually describes an attitude or behavior toward another person.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind suchte bei seiner Tante mütterliche Wärme und Sicherheit.
The child sought motherly warmth and security from their aunt.
Context clue
The meaning 'originating from the mother' can often be recognized from words relating to family, ancestry, or relatives. Typical examples include 'mütterliche Verwandte' (maternal relatives), 'die mütterliche Seite der Familie' (the maternal side of the family), and 'mütterliches Erbe' (maternal inheritance).
EXAMPLE
Die mütterliche Seite der Familie lebt seit Generationen in dieser Stadt.
The maternal side of the family has lived in this city for generations.
In real life
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