der Fleiß
diligence
The sustained and careful effort with which someone completes a task or pursues a goal.
EXAMPLE
Durch seinen Fleiß hat er die schwierige Prüfung bestanden.
Thanks to his diligence, he passed the difficult exam.
der Fleiß
diligence
der Fleiß
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Fleiß, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Fleißes |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Fleiß | – |
| accusative | den Fleiß | – |
| dative | dem Fleiß | – |
| genitive | des Fleißes | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
Common collocations include 'Fleiß zeigen' (to show diligence), 'großen Fleiß beweisen' (to demonstrate great diligence), and 'jemanden für seinen Fleiß loben' (to praise someone for their diligence). These phrases highlight diligence as a positive quality at work or while studying.
EXAMPLE
Die Ausbilderin lobte den Lehrling für seinen Fleiß.
The instructor praised the apprentice for his diligence.
With diligence
With 'mit viel Fleiß' (with great diligence) or 'mit großem Fleiß' (with great diligence), you describe how someone works on a task. This phrase combines well with verbs such as 'lernen' (to study), 'üben' (to practice), and 'arbeiten' (to work).
EXAMPLE
Sie übt mit großem Fleiß für ihren ersten Auftritt.
She is practicing diligently for her first performance.
Fixed proverb
The proverb 'Ohne Fleiß kein Preis' (No pain, no gain) emphasizes that success requires effort. It is used as an encouragement or reminder to make an effort, though it can also sound preachy.
EXAMPLE
Du musst regelmäßig trainieren, wenn du gewinnen willst – ohne Fleiß kein Preis!
You have to train regularly if you want to win—no pain, no gain!
In real life
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