nüchtern

German

Etymology

From Middle High German [Term?], from Old High German nuohturn, from Latin nocturnus (“nocturnal”). Compare Danish nøgtern, Hunsrik nichter, English nocturnal.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnʏçtɐn/
• Hyphenation: nüch‧tern

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

nüchtern (comparative nüchterner, superlative am nüchternsten)

1. sober (“not drunk; serious, not playful or passionate”)
2. (medicine) with an empty stomach

   Bitte kommen Sie nüchtern zur Untersuchung.

   Please do not eat anything before the examination.

3. matter-of-fact, unemotional

Further reading

• “nüchtern” in Duden online