noun
der Beweggrund, ¨-e
motive
Ein innerer Anlass oder eine Ursache, warum jemand etwas tut oder sich für etwas entscheidet.
The German word "Beweggrund" is a noun made up of two parts:
- Beweg- from bewegen (to move)
- Grund (reason, ground, cause)
Meaning:
"Beweggrund" means motive or reason — the underlying cause or incentive that "moves" someone to act.
Similar words:
- Motiv (motive)
- Grund (reason)
- Antrieb (drive, motivation)
Difference:
- Beweggrund emphasizes the personal or psychological reason behind an action.
- Motiv is very close but often used in more formal or psychological contexts.
- Grund is more general and can simply mean "reason" without the nuance of motivation.
- Antrieb relates more to an internal drive or force pushing someone, often emotional or energetic in nature.
Make “Beweggrund” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Der Beweggrund für seine Entscheidung bleibt unklar.noun
The motive for his decision remains unclear.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad