neugierig

German

Etymology

Compound of neu (new) + gierig (greedy), but originally neusgierig with an adverbial genitive. A Middle Low German formation that replaced older Middle High German niugerne. Compare Dutch nieuwsgierig and Norwegian Bokmål nysgjerrig.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈnɔʏ̯ˌɡiːʁɪç/ (standard)
  • (file)
  • IPA(key): /ˈnɔʏ̯ˌɡiːʁɪk/ (common form in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland)
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: neu‧gie‧rig

Adjective

neugierig (strong nominative masculine singular neugieriger, comparative neugieriger, superlative am neugierigsten)

  1. nosy, curious, inquisitive, prying [+ auf (accusative)]
    neugierige Zuschauer.curious spectators.
    Ich bin besonders neugierig auf die Sitten und Gebräuche anderer Kulturen.
    I am very curious and keen to discover the customs and traditions of other cultures.

Declension

Adverb

neugierig

  1. inquisitively, full of curiosity
    neugierig zuschauen.to watch curiously.

Further reading

  • neugierig” in Duden online
  • neugierig” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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