German word

ewig

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈeːvɪç/

Meaning

  • adjectiveeternal

Example

Das ist eine ewige Frage.

That is an eternal question.

Illustration for ewig (eternal)

More examples

Ihre ewige Liebe blieb in seinem Herzen.

Her eternal love remained in his heart.

Core concept

A clock keeps moving, but its sequence contains no last tick.

Common phrases

  • ewige Liebe

    eternal love

  • ewige Erinnerung

    eternal memory

Similar words

endlos: Continuing endlessly, with no final point.
andauernd: Persisting over a long period with few interruptions.
ständig: Occurring continually or very often.

Definition in German

zeitlich unbegrenzt; ohne Frist oder Ende

Word origin

Ewig is an inherited Germanic word, recorded as Old High German ewig and Middle High German ewic, and related to *aiw- 'ever' or 'lifetime'.

Usage tips

  • The adverbial use of ewig commonly means 'for a very long time', so context can make it less absolute than 'eternal'.

Other meanings

  • foreveradverb
  • eternallyadverb
  • alwaysadverb
  • endlessadjective

Opposites

  • vergänglichtransientadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word