German word

neugierig

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈnɔʏ̯giːʁɪç/

Meaning

  • adjectivecurious

Example

Die neugierige Frau stellt viele Fragen.

The curious woman asks a lot of questions.

Illustration for neugierig (curious)

More examples

Als Moderatorin ist sie stets neugierig auf neue Themen.

As a moderator, she is always curious about new topics.

Core concept

An alert face leans toward something unfamiliar, eager to discover what it contains.

Common phrases

  • auf neue Themen neugierig sein

    be curious about new topics

  • neugierig bleiben

    remain curious

Similar words

interessiert: Showing interest in a particular subject or matter.
wissbegierig: Eager to gain knowledge and learn as much as possible.
aufgeschlossen: Receptive to new ideas and people, with little resistance to them.

Definition in German

Neugierig bedeutet, starkes Interesse an Neuem oder Unbekanntem zu haben und deshalb Fragen zu stellen oder Informationen zu suchen.

Word origin

Neugierig comes from Middle High German niugiric and combines neu, meaning "new," with gierig, meaning "greedy," for an older sense of hunger for novelty.

Usage tips

  • The usual pattern for a specific interest is neugierig auf plus the accusative, as in neugierig auf die Antwort.

Other meanings

  • nosyadjective

Opposites

  • gleichgültigindifferentadjective
  • interesselosuninterestedadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word