agil
agile
Physically nimble, flexible, and quick.
EXAMPLE
Trotz seines hohen Alters ist der Turner noch sehr agil.
Despite his advanced age, the gymnast is still very agile.
agil
agile
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Meanings
agil
agile
Refers to a flexible and iterative method in project management and software development that is geared toward quickly adapting to changes.
EXAMPLE
Unser Team arbeitet nach agilen Prinzipien, um schneller auf Kundenwünsche reagieren zu können.
Our team works according to agile principles so that we can respond to customer requests more quickly.
agil
agile
Mentally active, quick in thinking, and adaptable.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat einen agilen Geist und lernt neue Konzepte mühelos.
She has an agile mind and learns new concepts effortlessly.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning of 'agil' (agile) from the context. If people are talking about the body or sports, it refers to physical mobility. In the context of work and projects, it is about flexible methods. If people are talking about thinking and learning, it refers to mental agility.
EXAMPLE
Ein agiler Projektmanager kann schnell auf neue Anforderungen reagieren.
An agile project manager can respond quickly to new requirements.
Typical collocations
In connection with physical nimbleness, 'agil' (agile) is often used to describe movements, people, or animals. Typical combinations are 'agile Bewegungen' (agile movements), 'ein agiler Sportler' (an agile athlete), or 'körperlich agil sein' (to be physically agile).
EXAMPLE
Der Tänzer beeindruckte das Publikum mit seinen agilen Bewegungen.
The dancer impressed the audience with his agile movements.
Register and style
In this meaning, 'agil' (agile) is a technical term from the modern workplace, especially from project management and software development. Outside this context, the word is rarely used this way.
EXAMPLE
Viele Start-ups organisieren ihre Entwicklung in agilen Teams.
Many start-ups organize their development in agile teams.
Typical collocations
In a professional context, you will find 'agil' (agile) in fixed terms such as 'agiles Projektmanagement' (agile project management), 'agile Methoden' (agile methods), 'agiles Arbeiten' (agile working), or 'agile Softwareentwicklung' (agile software development).
EXAMPLE
Agiles Arbeiten erfordert viel Kommunikation im Team.
Agile working requires a lot of communication within the team.
Typical collocations
When it comes to mental abilities, 'agil' (agile) is often combined with the adverb 'geistig' (mentally) or describes the 'Geist' (mind). Common phrases are 'geistig agil bleiben' (to stay mentally agile) or 'einen agilen Geist haben' (to have an agile mind).
EXAMPLE
Regelmäßiges Lesen hilft dabei, geistig agil zu bleiben.
Regular reading helps you stay mentally agile.
Compare with
agil vs flexibel
flexible
In a work context, “flexibel” can generally mean that a project is adapted to changes. “Agil” refers more specifically to an iterative method with short work phases and regular adjustments. Therefore, not every flexible way of working is automatically agile.
agil
Das Team arbeitet agil und überprüft das Ergebnis nach jeder kurzen Arbeitsphase.
The team works in an agile way and reviews the results after each short work phase.
flexibel
Das Team bleibt flexibel und verschiebt bei Bedarf einzelne Termine im Projektplan.
The team remains flexible and reschedules individual dates in the project plan as needed.
In real life
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