German word

Geschick

Pronunciation

IPA/gəˈʃɪk/

Meaning

  • neuter nounskill

Example

Wegen ihres Geschicks bekam sie den Auftrag.

Because of her skill, she was given the assignment.

Illustration for Geschick (skill)

More examples

Er zeigte Geschick im Umgang mit kritischem Feedback.

He showed skill in dealing with critical feedback.

Core concept

A steady hand guides a task into the right course, while a course of events can also be called one's lot.

Common phrases

  • Geschick beim Formulieren von Argumenten

    skill in formulating arguments

  • Geschick im Umgang mit Kritik

    skill in dealing with criticism

Similar words

Fähigkeit: The basic ability needed to carry out a task.
Können: Practical proficiency in doing something successfully.
Fertigkeit: A specific technique learned through practice and experience.
Geschicklichkeit: The ability to handle objects with precise, skillful hand movements.

Definition in German

Fähigkeit, Aufgaben mit sicherer Hand und genauem Vorgehen auszuführen.

Word origin

Geschick comes from Middle High German geschic or geschicke, related to schicken, and developed from the ideas of arrangement and guidance to practical dexterity and fate.

Usage tips

  • The skill sense is common in phrases such as mit Geschick, while the fate sense is more literary and often appears as das Geschick eines Menschen.

Other meanings

  • dexteritynoun
  • fatenoun

Opposites

  • Ungeschickclumsinessnoun

Related words

  • geschicktskillfuladjective
  • Geschicklichkeitskillfulnessnoun

Word lists with this word