adjective

spannend

exciting

Etwas, das starkes Interesse weckt und neugierig macht, weil man unbedingt wissen will, wie es weitergeht.

Definition & meaning

The German adjective spannend describes something that captures and holds one's attention, typically due to anticipation, excitement, or mystery. It is most commonly used to describe:

Something exciting or gripping: A story, a movie, a book, or a sports match that keeps the audience in suspense.
Something fascinating or interesting: A topic, a development, or an observation that is thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating.

In a literal sense, it is the present participle of the verb spannen, meaning "to tighten" or "to put under tension." Figuratively, it implies that the subject matter creates a form of mental "tension" or suspense that keeps the person engaged.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: It is an adjective that can be used attributively (ein spannender Film) or predicatively (Der Film ist spannend). As a participle, it can also be used as an adverb.
Word origin: It is derived from the verb spannen (to stretch, to tighten, to cock a weapon). The suffix -end turns the verb into a present participle, functioning as an adjective. It relates to the noun die Spannung (tension/suspense).