German Phrase
Die Ernte hat's schwer.
Meaning
Literally, "The harvest has it hard." It means that the current harvest is difficult or labor‑intensive. The expression can also be used figuratively to describe any tough situation.
When to use
Use this phrase when talking about agricultural work that is proving challenging, or metaphorically when describing a period that feels especially demanding.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DieErntehat'sschwer
Definite article & gender
"Die" is the feminine singular definite article; "Ernte" is a feminine noun, so the article matches in gender, number, and case.
Contraction "hat's"
"hat's" is the spoken contraction of "hat es" (has it), where "es" is a dummy pronoun required by the verb "haben" in this construction.
Predicative adjective
"schwer" is used predicatively after "hat's" and therefore stays in its base form without an ending.
Word order
In a main clause the verb (or verb phrase) occupies the second position; the subject "Die Ernte" comes first, followed by the verb phrase "hat's".
🗨In Conversation
Wie läuft die Ernte dieses Jahr?
How is the harvest this year?
Die Ernte hat's schwer.
The harvest is tough.
✕Common Mistakes
Die Ernte hat schwer.
The verb needs the dummy pronoun "es"; in spoken German it is contracted to "hat's".
Die Ernte hat's schweres.
When used predicatively after "hat's" the adjective stays uninflected; adding an ending is incorrect.
Die Ernte (pronounced with English r)
Pronounce the "r" as a uvular fricative /ʁ/; a common mistake is to pronounce it like the English "r".
↔Alternatives
Die Ernte ist schwer.
The harvest is hard.
Die Ernte ist anstrengend.
The harvest is exhausting.
Die Ernte gestaltet sich schwierig.
The harvest proves difficult.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking rural communities, talking about the "Ernte" is everyday conversation. The contraction "hat's" is colloquial and typical in spoken German, but you’ll rarely see it in formal writing. In northern Germany speakers may prefer "hart" instead of "schwer" (e.g., "Die Ernte ist hart").