Does the German word for important 'Wichtig' literally translate into English as 'weighty'? I only ask because the two words do look quite similar and there is also a similar meaning.
Important in German.
"Wichtig" (from "Gewicht" = weight) means "important" in German and is indeed the direct translation of "weighty". But there is also another word, "wuchtig", meaning "weighty" or "stunning", that also can be seen as a direct translation.
"Weighty" in the sense of "heavy" is in German "schwer".
Also in Norwegian and the other Scandinavian languages "viktig" (from "vekt" = "weight") means "important". In Norwegian Nynorsk they are indeed as close as in English weight-weighty, being "vikt" (=weight) and "viktig" (=weighty, important).
"Weighty" in the sense of "heavy" is in German "schwer".
Also in Norwegian and the other Scandinavian languages "viktig" (from "vekt" = "weight") means "important". In Norwegian Nynorsk they are indeed as close as in English weight-weighty, being "vikt" (=weight) and "viktig" (=weighty, important).
<wichtig> (adj) ~ <bedeutend>
<wuchtig> ~ <massiv>
<gewichtig> ~ <substanziell>
<wuchtig> ~ <massiv>
<gewichtig> ~ <substanziell>