German Conversation · Level 27
90 words
German word
passiv
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈpasiːf/
Meaning
- adjectivepassive
Example
Sie hat eine passive Haltung.
She has a passive attitude.
More examples
Der Satz ist passiv formuliert.
The sentence is formulated in the passive voice.
Core concept
A person or grammatical subject stays on the receiving side while another force or agent supplies the action.
Common phrases
passiv formuliert
formulated in the passive voice
passiv gebildet
formed in the passive voice
Similar words
reaktiv: Acting in response to outside stimuli or changing conditions.
zurückhaltend: Being restrained in what is said and done.
reserviert: Maintaining distance through a reserved manner and limited expression.
Definition in German
nicht aktiv oder initiativ handelnd; eher reagierend oder zurückhaltend
Word origin
The adjective passiv entered German from Latin passivus, which is formed from pati, 'to suffer or undergo', and developed the sense of being acted upon.
Usage tips
- With people, passiv often suggests insufficient initiative, whereas in grammar it is a neutral term for a voice that presents the receiver of an action.
Other meanings
- unassertiveadjective
Opposites
- aktivactiveadjective
Related words
- Passivbildungpassive voice formationnoun
- Passivpassive voicenoun