German word

zögerlich

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtsøːgɐlɪç/

Meaning

  • adjectivehesitant

Example

Ein zögerlicher Mann antwortete langsam.

A hesitant man answered slowly.

Illustration for zögerlich (hesitant)

More examples

Sie sprach mit zögerlicher Stimme.

She spoke in a hesitant voice.

Core concept

A speaker or actor holds back, taking small uncertain steps instead of responding or acting decisively.

Common phrases

  • zögerlicher Stimme

    hesitant voice

  • zögerliches Lächeln

    hesitant smile

  • ein zögerlicher Schritt

    a hesitant step

Similar words

zögernd: Moving forward slowly while hesitating about what to do.
zaghaft: Acting timidly because of a lack of confidence or courage.
unsicher: Lacking confidence in a decision and unable to decide clearly.
vorsichtig: Acting carefully to avoid accidents or mistakes.

Definition in German

Nicht sofort handeln oder sprechen, weil man unsicher ist; zurückhaltendes Auftreten.

Word origin

Zögerlich derives from zögern, the German verb for hesitating, by adding the productive adjective suffix -lich.

Usage tips

  • Zögern commonly combines with zu and an infinitive, as in zögern, zu antworten, meaning to hesitate to answer.

Other meanings

  • tentativeadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • Zögerlichkeithesitationnoun
  • Zögernhesitationnoun
  • zögerndhesitantadjective

Word lists with this word