sehr
very · very much, a lot
Sehr means 'very' and is used to intensify adjectives, adverbs, or verbs. It is one of the most common German adverbs and is neutral in tone.
What sehr means
- very — before adjectives or adverbs to express a high degree
- very much, a lot — with verbs to express intensity, often in questions or negative sentences
Heard in real German videos
Lines where sehr was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Okay, immer sehr gut.Okay, always very good.
- Ja, sehr gut, Schwester.Yes, very good, sister.
- Aber dieser Raum ist sehr kalt.But this room is very cold.
Example sentences
- Das Essen ist sehr gut.The food is very good.
- Ich danke dir sehr.I thank you very much.
- Er arbeitet sehr viel.He works a lot.
- Wie sehr vermisst du sie?How much do you miss her?
Common phrases
- sehr gutvery good
- sehr viela lot, very much
- sehr gernewith pleasure, gladly
- so sehrso much
- zu sehrtoo much
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers sometimes use 'viel' instead of 'sehr' before positive adjectives (e.g., 'viel gut' instead of 'sehr gut'). Remember: 'sehr' intensifies positive adjectives and adverbs, while 'viel' means 'much/many' and is used with nouns, verbs, or comparative adjectives (e.g., 'viel besser' = much better).
Don’t confuse it with
- viel — Viel means 'much/many' and can be used with nouns, verbs, or comparative adjectives (e.g., 'viel besser'), while sehr intensifies positive adjectives and adverbs.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'sehr' and 'viel'?
Sehr means 'very' and modifies positive adjectives or adverbs, while viel means 'much/many' and is used with nouns, verbs, or comparative adjectives (e.g., 'viel besser').
Can 'sehr' be used with verbs?
Yes, but it is less common and often sounds formal or emphatic, e.g., 'Ich danke Ihnen sehr.' In everyday speech, 'sehr' with verbs is often replaced by 'sehr viel' or other intensifiers.
How do you say 'I like it very much' in German?
You can say 'Ich mag es sehr' or 'Es gefällt mir sehr gut.' Note that 'sehr' can directly modify the verb 'mögen', but with 'gefallen' you typically use 'sehr gut'.