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Gewohnheit, -en

habit

Definition & meaning

die Gewohnheit means a habit: a way of behaving or doing something that has become familiar through repetition. It can refer to an individual’s regular behavior or, more broadly, to an established custom.

  • Aus Gewohnheit trinkt sie morgens Kaffee. — “Out of habit, she drinks coffee in the morning.”
  • Das ist eine alte Gewohnheit. — “That is an old custom.”

Grammar & Word origin

  • Gender: feminine — die Gewohnheit
  • Plural: die Gewohnheiten
  • Word parts: gewohnt (“accustomed” or “usual”) + -heit, a suffix that forms abstract nouns. Gewohnt is related to the verb wohnen (“to live”); historically, the word connects the idea of dwelling somewhere with becoming accustomed to it.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • die Angewohnheit — a personal habit, often one that is noticeable or potentially undesirable. It is more individual and can carry a mildly negative tone.
  • die Routine — a regular, often practical sequence of actions. It emphasizes repetition and procedure more than Gewohnheit does.
  • der Brauch — a custom shared by a group or community, rather than usually an individual habit.
  • die Sitte — a social custom or convention, often associated with a community’s traditional ways of behaving.

Antonyms

There is no single direct antonym. Depending on the context, contrasts include:

  • die Spontaneität — spontaneity; acting without following an established habit.
  • die Ausnahme — an exception; something that departs from the usual pattern rather than opposing the concept of habit itself.

Common phrases & collocations

  • eine Gewohnheit haben — to have a habit
  • eine Gewohnheit entwickeln — to develop a habit
  • sich an etwas gewöhnen — to get used to something
  • eine Gewohnheit ablegen — to break a habit
  • aus Gewohnheit — out of habit
  • eine schlechte Gewohnheit — a bad habit

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Examples

Diese schlechte Gewohnheit muss ich endlich ablegen.other

I must finally give up this bad habit.

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