redlich
honest
The quality of acting honestly, fairly, and decently. It describes a person or behavior that is morally beyond reproach.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich sein Vermögen auf redliche Weise erarbeitet.
He earned his fortune in an honest way.
redlich
honest / decent
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Meanings
redlich
hearty / well-deserved
Used as an intensifying word in the sense of 'quite,' 'very,' or 'proper.' This meaning is often slightly elevated in style or somewhat old-fashioned.
EXAMPLE
Nach der langen Wanderung hatten wir uns eine redliche Mahlzeit verdient.
After the long hike, we had earned ourselves a hearty meal.
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'redlich' (honest, decent) is related to 'die Rede' (speech). It describes a person who can stand by their actions and give an account of them ('Rede und Antwort stehen' — to answer for oneself).
EXAMPLE
Ein redlicher Kaufmann betrügt seine Kunden nicht.
An honest merchant does not cheat his customers.
Register
'Redlich' (honest, decent) belongs to elevated or formal language in both meanings. It is rarely used in everyday conversation.
EXAMPLE
Der Finder des Portemonnaies war eine redliche Seele und gab es bei der Polizei ab.
The person who found the wallet was an honest soul and handed it in to the police.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'ehrlich' (honest), 'redlich' (honestly) is often used as an adverb to describe an action. Typical phrases are 'sich redlich bemühen' (to make an honest effort) or 'etwas redlich verdienen' (to honestly earn something).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat sich ihr ganzes Leben lang redlich bemüht, eine gute Mutter zu sein.
She made an honest effort her whole life to be a good mother.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning 'ziemlich' (quite) or 'ordentlich' (proper, considerable) by the fact that 'redlich' comes before a noun that describes an amount or a result. It often carries the connotation that one has earned something.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Gartenarbeit hatte er einen redlichen Durst.
After the gardening, he had worked up quite a thirst.
Compare with
redlich vs ehrlich
honest
Ehrlich and redlich both describe people who do not deceive or cheat. Ehrlich refers particularly to truthfulness, while redlich, usually somewhat more elevated in style, emphasizes an overall fair and morally irreproachable attitude. Ehrlich is common for a direct statement; redlich can fit an evaluation of someone’s actions as a whole.
redlich
Die Unternehmerin handelte redlich und behandelte ihre Kunden stets fair.
The businesswoman acted honorably and always treated her customers fairly.
ehrlich
Der Verkäufer war ehrlich und nannte sofort den kleinen Fehler am Fahrrad.
The salesperson was honest and immediately pointed out the bicycle’s minor defect.
In real life
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