German word

Trieb

Pronunciation

IPA/triːp/

Meaning

  • masculine nounimpulse

Example

Er konnte seinen Trieb nicht unterdrücken.

He couldn't suppress his impulse.

Illustration for Trieb (impulse)

More examples

Sein Trieb zur Forschung motivierte ihn, neue Methoden zu testen.

His impulse to do research motivated him to test new methods.

Core concept

A force rising from within and pushing a person or organism toward a particular action.

Common phrases

  • einen Trieb zügeln

    curb an impulse

  • dem Trieb nachgeben

    give in to an impulse

  • einen Trieb stillen

    satisfy an impulse

Similar words

Impuls: A brief, sudden urge to do something.
Drang: A compelling urge to act that is difficult to control.
Instinkt: An inborn tendency to behave or react automatically.
Bedürfnis: A need essential to maintaining life or emotional well-being.

Definition in German

Starker innerer Drang oder biologischer Antrieb, der zu bestimmtem Verhalten führt.

Word origin

Trieb is a noun formed from the German verb treiben, meaning to drive or propel, and developed the senses of an inner or biological drive.

Usage tips

  • Trieb is masculine, with the plural Triebe, and compounds such as Sexualtrieb and Überlebenstrieb specify the type of drive.

Other meanings

  • desirenoun
  • instinctnoun

Opposites

  • Selbstbeherrschungself-controlnoun
  • Vernunftreasonnoun

Related words

  • Triebhaftigkeitimpulsivenessnoun
  • triebhaftimpulsiveadjective
  • Triebkraftdriving forcenoun

Word lists with this word