Vocabulary
die
Eigeninitiative
/ˈaɪ̯ɡn̩ʔinitsi̯aˌtiːvə/· noun· Pl. —
initiative (of one's own)
What reviews praise and job ads ask for: you see what needs doing and do it without being told.
CEFR C1Frequency ●●●●●
Your memory
New
Learning
Familiar
Strong
Mastered
Forms
- Singular
- die Eigeninitiative
- Plural
- —
- Genitiv
- der Eigeninitiative
One word, many lives
Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
Eigeninitiative
acting on one's own initiative
Sie hat das aus Eigeninitiative gemacht.
She did it on her own initiative.
Word family
Eigeninitiativedie Initiativethe initiativeeigenowndie Initiativbewerbungthe speculative application
Common combinations
- Eigeninitiative zeigento show initiative
- aus Eigeninitiativeon one's own initiative
- ein hohes Maß an Eigeninitiativea high degree of initiative
Common learner mistakes
- Er nimmt oft die Initiative.Er ergreift oft die Initiative. / Er zeigt viel Eigeninitiative.You ergreifen die Initiative (seize it) or zeigen Eigeninitiative; nehmen doesn't go with it.
Real examples
- In der Stellenanzeige wird ein hohes Maß an Eigeninitiative erwartet.The job ad expects a high degree of initiative.
- Sie hat das Handbuch für neue Kollegen aus Eigeninitiative überarbeitet.She revised the handbook for new colleagues on her own initiative.
- Wer Eigeninitiative zeigt, bekommt meist auch mehr Verantwortung übertragen.People who show initiative are usually given more responsibility, too.
