adjectiveadverb
eigenhändig
single-handedly
Definition & meaning
Eigenhändig means personally, with one’s own hands, or in one’s own handwriting, depending on the context. It emphasizes that someone did something themselves rather than having another person do it.
- Sie hat den Brief eigenhändig geschrieben. — She wrote the letter in her own hand.
- Er hat das Haus eigenhändig gebaut. — He built the house with his own hands.
Grammar & Word origin
Eigenhändig is an adjective that can also be used adverbially. It combines eigen (“own”) with a form derived from Hand (“hand”).
Synonyms & antonyms
- persönlich — “personally”; emphasizes the person’s direct involvement, but not necessarily the use of their own hands.
- selbst — “oneself”; broader and more common, without specifically suggesting handwriting or manual work.
- handschriftlich — “handwritten”; describes how something is written, but does not necessarily emphasize who wrote it.
- fremdhändig — “in another person’s handwriting” or “by another’s hand”; a relatively uncommon antonym, especially in writing-related contexts.
Common phrases & collocations
Make “eigenhändig” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Er hat das Bild eigenhändig gemalt.adverb
He painted the picture single-handedly.
Er führte alles eigenhändig aus.adverb
He carried out everything single-handedly.
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