01
die Habgier
greed
An excessive, ruthless desire to accumulate possessions and wealth; greed.
example
Seine Habgier war so groß, dass er sogar seine eigene Familie betrog.
His greed was so great that he even betrayed his own family.
die Habgier
greed
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of the stem of 'haben' (to have), 'Hab-', and the noun 'Gier' (greed). So it literally describes the greed to have and possess more and more.
EXAMPLE
Die Geschichte warnt vor den Folgen von zu viel Habgier.
The story warns of the consequences of too much greed.
Use with 'aus'
To name the reason for an action, the preposition 'aus' (out of/from) is often used. The phrase 'aus Habgier' (out of greed) means that greed was the motivation for an act.
EXAMPLE
Er hat den wertvollen Schmuck nur aus reiner Habgier gestohlen.
He stole the valuable jewelry purely out of greed.
Register and style
'Habgier' (greed) is a strong, judgmental word. It is often used in formal, literary, or moral contexts to criticize excessive and ruthless desire for possessions.
EXAMPLE
Der Roman thematisiert die zerstörerische Kraft der menschlichen Habgier.
The novel addresses the destructive power of human greed.
Compare with
Habgier vs Gier
greed
'Gier' and 'Habgier' both describe a very strong desire that can seem negative. 'Gier' is more general: it can be about money, power, or possessions, but also about something non-material like knowledge or adventure. 'Habgier' is narrower and especially means the ruthless desire for possessions and wealth. So when it is clearly about money or property, 'Habgier' is more precise. 'Gier' fits more situations and can also be used more figuratively.
Habgier
Aus Habgier wollte der Bruder das ganze Erbe für sich allein behalten.
Out of greed, the brother wanted to keep the entire inheritance for himself.
Gier
Seine Gier nach Macht machte ihn immer unzufriedener.
His greed for power made him more and more dissatisfied.
In real life
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