Ernsthafte

Ernsthafte is a German adjective form derived from ernst, meaning serious or earnest. It is used attributively before a noun to express that something is marked by seriousness or sincerity. The form ernsthafte is common in standard German, appearing in phrases such as die ernsthafte Absicht, das ernsthafte Ziel, die ernsthafte Debatte. In plural contexts without an article, the form ernsthafte also occurs, as in ernsthafte Bemühungen.

Declension and usage become clearer with examples. After a definite article in the singular, the adjective takes the ending -e: der ernsthafte Mann, die ernsthafte Frau, das ernsthafte Kind. In the plural, with a definite article, the ending is -en: die ernsthaften Männer. In the plural with no article, the form stays ernsthafte: ernsthafte Bemühungen. After an indefinite article, endings differ by gender: ein ernsthafter Mann, eine ernsthafte Frau, ein ernsthaftes Kind.

Nuance and function: ernsthafte conveys more than a bare sense of seriousness; it emphasizes sincerity, gravity, and purposeful effort. It is common in formal writing, journalism, and literary prose, and it often appears where a strong but measured sense of seriousness is intended. While the word is widely used, its exact ending follows standard German adjective inflection rules and may vary with article type and number.

There is no widely recognized person, place, or organization known simply as "ernsthafte." It is primarily a descriptive adjective form in the German language.