die
Habgier
🤔 What Exactly is Habgier?
Die Habgier describes an excessive, ruthless desire for material possessions, power, or money. It's not just about wanting things, but about a greed (Gier) that often comes at the expense of others or is morally questionable. It's a purely negative concept.
The word is feminine, so the article is always die: die Habgier.
🧐 Grammar: Die Habgier in Detail
Die Habgier is a feminine noun. It is mostly used only in the singular.
| Case (Kasus) | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Habgier |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Habgier |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Habgier |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Habgier |
A plural form ('die Habgierigkeiten') is very rare and hardly ever used. If used, it would refer to specific acts or manifestations of greed.
Example Sentences
- Seine Habgier kannte keine Grenzen.
(His greed knew no bounds.) - Die Habgier ist eine der sieben Todsünden.
(Greed/Avarice is one of the seven deadly sins.) - Man warf ihm unersättliche Habgier vor.
(He was accused of insatiable greed.)
🗣️ How to Use Habgier?
Die Habgier is used almost exclusively in contexts that morally condemn greed and excessive striving for possessions or power. You'll often find it in discussions about ethics, religion, politics, or in literature to characterize negative figures.
Difference from 'Gier': While 'Gier' (also feminine: 'die Gier') can describe a more general strong desire for something (e.g., Wissensgier - thirst for knowledge), 'Habgier' specifically refers to the desire for material possessions or power and always carries a strong negative connotation.
Typical Collocations:
- reine Habgier (pure greed/avarice)
- nackte Habgier (naked greed/avarice)
- getrieben von Habgier (driven by greed/avarice)
- aus Habgier handeln (to act out of greed/avarice)
💡 Mnemonics for Habgier
Remembering the Article (die): Imagine a greedy queen (feminine - die) wanting all the treasure: die Habgier rules.
Remembering the Meaning: Think of the German verb "haben" (to have) and the noun "Gier" (greed). Someone who wants to haben everything and is gierig suffers from Habgier.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Die Gier: More general, but often interchangeable (greed).
- Der Geiz: Focuses on stinginess, not wanting to give things away (miserliness).
- Die Raffgier / Raffsucht: Particularly ruthless, grasping greed (rapacity).
- Die Habsucht: Very similar to Habgier (acquisitiveness, avarice).
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Die Großzügigkeit: Willingness to give (generosity).
- Die Freigiebigkeit: Joy in giving (liberality).
- Der Altruismus: Selflessness, focus on the well-being of others (altruism).
- Die Bescheidenheit: Contentment, lack of pretension (modesty, humility).
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der habgierige Mann versucht, die Zeit zu stehlen?
(Why did the greedy man try to steal time?)
Weil er gehört hat, dass Zeit Geld ist!
(Because he heard that time is money!)
📜 Poem about Greed
Die Hand greift zu, kennt kein Genug,
(The hand reaches out, knows no enough,)
ein Herz, das nur nach Schätzen sucht.
(a heart that only seeks treasures.)
Die Habgier flüstert: "Mehr, noch mehr!",
(Greed whispers: "More, still more!",)
doch lässt die Seele kalt und leer.
(but leaves the soul cold and empty.)
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich will immer mehr, kann nie genug kriegen,
(I always want more, can never get enough,)
lasse Herzen erkalten, lasse Freundschaften liegen.
(let hearts grow cold, let friendships lie.)
Besitz ist mein Ziel, mein einziger Stern.
(Possession is my goal, my only star.)
Wer bin ich, die Sucht, die man hält besser fern?
(Who am I, the addiction best kept afar?)
Solution: Die Habgier (Greed/Avarice)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition: The word 'Habgier' is composed of the stem of the verb 'haben' (to have) and the noun 'Gier' (greed). It literally means 'greed for having'.
Cultural Significance: In many cultures and religions (e.g., in Christianity as one of the seven deadly sins), avarice (Habgier) is considered a vice or sin that leads to moral decay and unhappiness.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Habgier?
The German word Habgier is feminine. The correct article is die. So, it is always die Habgier.