German Phrase
Familienwerte sind mir wichtig.
Meaning
This phrase expresses a personal conviction regarding the significance of family principles. It uses the dative pronoun 'mir' to indicate that the importance is a personal feeling or state, which is a common construction in German for subjective evaluations.
When to use
Use this phrase in conversations about personal priorities, dating, or social ethics. It is suitable for both formal interviews and deep personal discussions with friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Familienwertesindmirwichtig
Dative of Interest
The word 'mir' is the dative form of 'ich', used here to show who the statement applies to personally.
Compound Nouns
'Familienwerte' is a compound of 'Familie' (family) and 'Werte' (values), showing how German builds complex ideas by joining nouns.
🗨In Conversation
Was ist dir im Leben am wichtigsten?
What is most important to you in life?
Familienwerte sind mir wichtig.
Family values are important to me.
✕Common Mistakes
Familienwerte sind wichtig für mich.
While 'für mich' is understood, the dative 'mir' is the idiomatic standard for expressing personal importance in German.
Familienwerte haben mir wichtig.
Importance is state-based in German; use the verb 'sein' (to be) rather than 'haben' (to have).
↔Alternatives
Die Familie steht bei mir an erster Stelle.
Family comes first for me.
Ich lege großen Wert auf die Familie.
I place great value on family.
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking countries, family values often revolve around reliability, mutual support, and 'Quality Time,' such as the traditional Sunday afternoon coffee. Expressing these values is generally seen as a sign of maturity and social responsibility.