German word

Sucht

Pronunciation

IPA/zʊxt/

Meaning

  • feminine nounaddiction

Example

Viele Menschen haben eine Sucht.

Many people have an addiction.

Illustration for Sucht (addiction)

More examples

Er verlor wegen seiner Sucht seinen Job.

He lost his job because of his addiction.

Core concept

A recurring pull that draws attention back to a substance or activity even when stopping is difficult.

Common phrases

  • an einer Sucht leiden

    suffer from an addiction

  • eine Sucht überwinden

    overcome an addiction

  • eine Sucht entwickeln

    develop an addiction

Similar words

Abhängigkeit: A state of relying on a substance or activity, with problems arising without it.
Zwang: A powerful urge to repeat an act that is difficult to resist or stop.
Gewohnheit: A repeated everyday behavior learned through practice and usually controllable.

Definition in German

Starkes, oft zwanghaftes Verlangen oder Bedürfnis nach einer Substanz oder Tätigkeit, das die Kontrolle über das Verhalten einschränkt.

Word origin

Through Middle High German suht, Sucht goes back to Old High German suhta, an old word for illness whose meaning later developed toward addiction.

Usage tips

  • Sucht is a strong, serious word, while Vorliebe or Leidenschaft usually fits an ordinary preference or hobby.

Other meanings

  • cravingnoun

Opposites

  • Abstinenzabstinencenoun

Related words

  • süchtigaddictedadjective
  • Suchtpräventionaddiction preventionnoun
  • Suchtberatungaddiction counselingnoun

Word lists with this word