brennend

Brennend is a German adjective and present participle derived from the verb brennen, meaning to burn. It describes something that is on fire in a literal sense, such as brennendes Feuer (the burning fire), or something that is intensely hot or burning figuratively, such as brennende Hitze or brennendes Interesse. The term also appears in phrases that convey urgency or passion, for example ein brennendes Thema (a burning/urgent issue) and brennende Sehnsucht (burning longing).

Grammatical use and inflection follow ordinary German adjective rules. As an attributive adjective it takes endings: ein brennender Mann, eine brennende Kerze, zwei brennende Kerzen, das brennende Thema. In predicative position it still agrees with the subject, as in Das Feuer ist brennend. In figurative uses, brennend emphasizes intensity or urgency rather than a literal fire.

Usage context and nuance: brennend is common in everyday language as well as in literature and journalism. Literally it denotes fire or heat, while metaphorically it conveys strong emotion, immediacy, or topical importance. English translations vary by context, often rendered as burning, burning-hot, burning/ardent, or burning issue.

Etymology and related terms: brennen is the root verb, from which brennend is formed. Related terms include brennbar (flammable), Brenner (burner), Brennstoff (fuel), and Brennpunkt (focal point), all sharing the root that indicates burning or heat.