ernsthaft
Translation
seriously, earnestly, genuinely, gravely
Examples
Wir müssen ernsthaft darüber reden.
We need to talk about it seriously.
Er ist ernsthaft krank.
He is seriously ill.
Sie sucht ernsthaft eine neue Arbeit.
She is seriously looking for a new job.
Grammar Patterns
(as an adverb) seriously We need to talk about it seriously.
(as an adjective) serious He is a serious candidate.
Similar Words
Synonyms: ernstlich, wirklich, tatsächlich; Antonyms: scherzhaft, spielerisch
Etymology
From 'Ernst' (seriousness) + the suffix '-haft' (having the quality of). Literally 'having the quality of seriousness'.
Memory Tips
Think of this as the adverbial form of 'ernst'. While 'ernst' describes a state (a serious person), 'ernsthaft' describes an action (to talk seriously).