tiefe Leere
Nach dem Verlust fühlte sie nur noch eine tiefe Leere.
After the loss, she only felt a deep emptiness.
A profound sense of emptiness or hollowness, often emotional or existential.
Die Stadt lag in tiefer Leere, als alle Bewohner geflohen waren.
The city lay in deep emptiness after all the residents had fled.
Sein Herz war erfüllt von tiefer Leere, obwohl er alles hatte.
His heart was filled with deep emptiness, despite having everything.
Often used in poetic, philosophical, or introspective contexts to describe a void that cannot be filled.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Emotional vs. Literal Use
While 'tiefe Leere' can describe a physical space (e.g., an empty room), it is most often used metaphorically to describe emotional or existential states. Pay attention to context to distinguish between the two.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
'Tiefe Leere' is a strong phrase. Use it sparingly to emphasize profound emotional states. Overuse can dilute its impact.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'tiefe' (deep, profound) from Old High German 'tiufi' and 'Leere' (emptiness) from Proto-Germanic '*lēriz'. The compound reflects a poetic or philosophical concept of profound hollowness, often tied to existential themes in German literature.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in literature, philosophy, and introspective contexts to describe a state of emotional or existential void. Not typically used in casual conversation unless describing a profound emotional state.