Skip to content

Eigensinn

wilfulness

noun EYE-gen-zin Rare
Mind & Emotions Personality

Also means

obstinacy

Usage Note

Eigensinn combines eigen (own) and Sinn to mean self-willed obstinacy, sometimes admired as independence. The adjective eigensinnig often describes a headstrong child. Rarely pluralised.

Examples

"Mit kindlichem Eigensinn bestand er auf seiner Meinung."

Natural Translation

With childlike wilfulness he insisted on his opinion.

Literal Translation

With childlike wilfulness insisted he on his opinion.

Free starter pack

Building your German vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore German by topic