ertrage

Ertrage is the imperative form of the German verb ertragen, meaning to endure, bear, or withstand something. It is used to tell someone to endure a burden, difficulty, or unpleasant situation. The word can convey a stern or admonishing tone and is more common in literary, religious, or historical contexts than in casual speech.

Grammatical notes: ertragen is a strong verb. Present tense forms include ich ertrage, du erträgst, er erträgt, wir ertragen, ihr ertragt, sie ertragen. The imperative forms are ertrage (du), ertragt (ihr), and ertragen Sie (Sie). The form ertrage is specifically the informal singular command: “Endure this.”

Usage and nuance: Ertrage often implies a conscious effort to endure suffering, pain, or a long-lasting burden rather than a momentary discomfort. It can appear in exhortations, moral instruction, or dramatic dialogue. In everyday conversation, more colloquial synonyms such as aushalten or erdulden are typically used.

Examples:

- Ertrage diese Prüfung ruhig und konzentriere dich. (Endure this exam calmly and stay focused.)

- Ertrage die Schmerzen, bis der Arzt kommt. (Endure the pain until the doctor arrives.)

Related terms: While ertragen shares meaning with verbs like aushalten and erdulden, ertragen emphasizes the act of bearing a burden or hardship over time. The distinction between these verbs depends on nuance and context.