angeboren
innate
A quality, ability, or characteristic that has been present since birth and was not learned.
EXAMPLE
Ihr musikalisches Talent ist angeboren, sie musste nie viel üben.
Her musical talent is innate; she never had to practice much.
angeboren
innate / congenital
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Meanings
angeboren
congenital
In medicine: a disease or malformation that already exists at birth.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind leidet an einem angeborenen Herzfehler.
The child suffers from a congenital heart defect.
Usage tips
Word structure
'Angeboren' is composed of 'an' and 'geboren' (past participle of 'gebären', to give birth). It literally describes something that was 'given' to someone at birth.
EXAMPLE
Manche Forscher glauben, dass ein Gerechtigkeitssinn angeboren ist.
Some researchers believe that a sense of justice is innate.
Dative construction
You can use 'angeboren' in a construction with the dative to express to whom a quality is innate. The pattern is: 'Etwas ist [Person im Dativ] angeboren.' (Something is innate to [person in the dative].)
EXAMPLE
Die Fähigkeit, Sprachen zu lernen, scheint ihm angeboren zu sein.
The ability to learn languages seems to be innate to him.
Typical collocations
In general usage, 'angeboren' (innate) is often combined with abilities and qualities, for example: 'ein angeborenes Talent' (an innate talent), 'ein angeborener Instinkt' (an innate instinct), or 'eine angeborene Neugier' (an innate curiosity).
EXAMPLE
Hunde haben einen angeborenen Instinkt, ihr Territorium zu verteidigen.
Dogs have an innate instinct to defend their territory.
Use in medicine
In a medical context, 'angeboren' (congenital) describes diseases or physical characteristics that have existed since birth. Typical combinations are 'angeborener Herzfehler' (congenital heart defect) or 'angeborene Fehlbildung' (congenital malformation).
EXAMPLE
Die Untersuchung zeigte einen angeborenen Defekt am Herzen.
The examination showed a congenital defect in the heart.
Compare with
angeboren vs genetisch
genetic
„Angeboren“ means that a characteristic or disease was already present at birth. „Genetisch“, by contrast, describes a cause or basis in the genes; something congenital therefore does not necessarily have to be genetic. Use „angeboren“ for the timing and „genetisch“ for the connection with genes.
angeboren
Die Fehlbildung war angeboren und bei der Geburt bereits sichtbar.
The malformation was congenital and already visible at birth.
genetisch
Die Krankheit ist genetisch bedingt, wurde aber erst im Erwachsenenalter festgestellt.
The disease has a genetic cause, but it was not diagnosed until adulthood.
In real life
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