German Conversation · Level 131
43 words
German word
Neigung
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈnaɪ̯gʊŋ/
Meaning
- feminine nountendency
Example
Er hat eine Neigung, immer zu spät zu kommen.
He has a tendency to be late all the time.
More examples
Seine Neigung zu riskanten Entscheidungen wurde deutlich.
His tendency to make risky decisions became clear.
Core concept
A surface tilting toward one side, suggesting a person being drawn toward a choice or habit.
Common phrases
eine Neigung zu Übertreibungen
a tendency toward exaggeration
eine Neigung zu etwas haben
have a tendency toward something
Neigung zeigen
show a tendency
Similar words
Tendenz: A recurring direction shown by events, behavior, or circumstances.
Vorliebe: A preference for something that brings particular enjoyment.
Gewohnheit: A behavior repeated so often that it becomes routine.
Hang: A strong natural inclination toward a particular course or behavior.
Definition in German
Neigung bezeichnet einen Hang zu etwas, also eine innere Disposition oder Vorliebe, die sich im Verhalten zeigen kann.
Word origin
Neigung is formed from the verb neigen, meaning to tilt or lean, with the noun-forming suffix -ung; its physical sense extended to mental inclination.
Usage tips
- The usual construction is eine Neigung zu plus a dative noun, as in eine Neigung zu riskanten Entscheidungen.
Other meanings
- slopenoun
- inclinationnoun
- preferencenoun
Opposites
- Abneigungaversionnoun
- Gleichgültigkeitindifferencenoun
Related words
- neigentendverb
- geneigtinclinedadjective