aufmerksam
[ˈaʊ̯fˌmɛʁkzaːm]
The English word alert translates to German as aufmerksam.
Meaning: a notification (noun)
Which one should you use?
You may use Pass auf to tell someone to watch out or be careful and Sei auf der Hut to express the idea of being on the watch.
Did you know?
- While aufmerksam describes a state of mental alertness, using the verb aufpassen to be alert can sometimes sound like you are scolding a child to behave.
- The German adjective aufmerksam shares a root with the English word 'mark', both stemming from the idea of 'noticing' or 'fixing' one's attention on something.
- The word aufmerksam shares a root with Merkblatt, which is a common German term for a fact sheet or a leaflet containing important information to be noticed.
Examples in context
- Seien Sie aufmerksamBe alert
- Seien Sie wachsam!Be alert!
- Sei auf der Hut vor DiebenBe alert for thieves
- Seien Sie aufmerksam und melden Sie Unregelmäßigkeiten umgehend.Be alert and report any irregularities immediately.
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are reviewing a document together.
- SarahLukas, ich muss dich aufmerksam machen.Lukas, I need to alert you.
- LukasWas ist denn passiert, Sarah?What happened, Sarah?
- SarahHier ist ein kleiner Fehler im Text.There is a small mistake in the text here.
- LukasDanke, dass du mich darauf aufmerksam gemacht hast.Thanks for alerting me to that.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry aufmerksam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aufmerksam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
