German Conversation · Level 170
29 words
German word
Bescheidenheit
Pronunciation
IPA/bəˈʃaɪ̯dn̩haɪ̯t/
Meaning
- feminine nounhumility
Example
Seine Bescheidenheit beeindruckte alle.
His humility impressed everyone.
More examples
Aus Bescheidenheit verzichtete er auf öffentliche Nennung seines Namens.
Out of humility, he declined to have his name mentioned publicly.
Core concept
A person steps back from the spotlight, leaves room for others, and does not present personal achievements as the main focus.
Common phrases
aus Bescheidenheit handeln
act out of humility
eine Haltung der Bescheidenheit
an attitude of humility
Similar words
Understatement: A way of expressing facts or feelings without exaggerating them.
Zurückhaltung: A tendency to hold back opinions or actions when appropriate.
Schüchternheit: A feeling of embarrassment or anxiety that discourages social interaction.
Definition in German
Bescheidenheit ist die Eigenschaft, sich selbst nicht zu betonen und anderen Raum zu lassen.
Word origin
Bescheidenheit is formed from the adjective bescheiden with -heit, a suffix that creates nouns for abstract qualities.
Usage tips
- Bescheidenheit is feminine, so the definite article is die, and the noun is usually treated as uncountable rather than given a plural.
Other meanings
- modestynoun
- self-effacementnoun
Opposites
- Überheblichkeitarrogancenoun
- Arroganzarrogancenoun
Related words
- bescheidenhumbleadjective