adjective

wichtig

important

Etwas, das eine große Bedeutung hat und beachtet werden sollte.

Definition & meaning

The adjective wichtig translates to "important," "significant," or "essential" in English. It describes something that carries weight, holds great value, or is necessary for a specific outcome.

There are two primary ways the word is used:

Meaning significance/importance: Something that matters a lot. (e.g., "Das ist eine wichtige Entscheidung" – This is an important decision.)
Meaning urgent/necessary: Something that must be done or considered. (e.g., "Ich habe etwas Wichtiges zu erledigen" – I have something important to take care of.)

Colloquially, it can also be used as an adverb or a noun (das Wichtige), referring to the core or essential part of a matter.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

Adjective: It is a regular adjective that follows standard German declension rules (e.g., ein wichtiger Termin, eine wichtige Nachricht, ein wichtiges Ereignis).
Comparative forms: It forms the comparative as wichtiger and the superlative as am wichtigsten.

Word origin:

The word stems from the Middle High German wihtic, which is derived from the Old High German wiht (thing, creature, being). Etymologically, it literally means "having weight" or "having substance."