Stern: meaning, definitions and examples
🚢
stern
[ stɜːrn ]
serious
showing no friendliness towards someone; severe or strict in manner or attitude
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She gave him a stern look and he immediately knew he was in trouble.
- The teacher had a stern expression on her face as she scolded the students for misbehaving.
Translations
Translations of the word "stern" in other languages:
🇵🇹 severo
- austero
- rígido
🇮🇳 कठोर
- सख्त
- गंभीर
🇩🇪 streng
- ernst
- starr
🇮🇩 ketat
- serius
- keras
🇺🇦 суворий
- строгий
- жорсткий
🇵🇱 surowy
- poważny
- sztywny
🇯🇵 厳しい (きびしい)
- 真剣な (しんけんな)
- 固い (かたい)
🇫🇷 sévère
- austère
- rigide
🇪🇸 severo
- austero
- rígido
🇹🇷 sert
- ciddi
- katı
🇰🇷 엄격한 (엄격한)
- 진지한 (진지한)
- 단단한 (단단한)
🇸🇦 صارم
- جاد
- صلب
🇨🇿 přísný
- vážný
- tvrdý
🇸🇰 prísny
- vážny
- tvrdý
🇨🇳 严厉的 (yánlì de)
- 严肃的 (yánsù de)
- 坚硬的 (jiānyìng de)
🇸🇮 strog
- resen
- trd
🇮🇸 strangur
- alvarlegur
- stífur
🇰🇿 қатал
- байсалды
- қатты
🇬🇪 მკაცრი
- სერიოზული
- მყარი
🇦🇿 sərt
- ciddi
- bərk
🇲🇽 severo
- austero
- rígido
Word origin
The word 'stern' originated from Middle English and Old English, ultimately deriving from the Proto-Germanic word 'sternō'. It has been used in English since the 12th century. Originally, 'stern' referred to the rear part of a ship or boat, but over time it also came to describe a serious or strict manner. The dual usage of 'stern' reflects its nautical and figurative meanings.
See also: sterner, sternly, sternness, sternwheeler.