01
inaktiv
inactive
Not active, working, or effective; idle or out of operation.
example
Der Vulkan gilt seit Jahrhunderten als inaktiv.
The volcano has been considered inactive for centuries.
inaktiv
inactive
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is composed of the prefix 'in-' and the adjective 'aktiv' (active). The prefix 'in-' here means 'not' and negates the base word. This pattern helps you understand many other words, e.g. 'intolerant' (intolerant) or 'inkorrekt' (incorrect).
EXAMPLE
Seine Antwort war leider inkorrekt.
Unfortunately, his answer was incorrect.
Typical collocations
'inaktiv' (inactive) is used in various contexts. Typical combinations are 'ein inaktiver Vulkan' (an inactive volcano), 'ein inaktives Benutzerkonto' (an inactive user account), or 'ein politisch inaktiver Mensch' (a politically inactive person).
EXAMPLE
Wenn du dein Konto länger als ein Jahr nicht nutzt, wird es inaktiv.
If you don't use your account for more than a year, it will become inactive.
Different contexts
The exact meaning of 'inaktiv' (inactive) depends on the context. With people, it often means 'untätig' (idle) or 'passiv' (passive). With technical devices or accounts, it means 'not in use' or 'deactivated'.
EXAMPLE
Er führt einen sehr inaktiven Lebensstil und macht kaum Sport.
He leads a very inactive lifestyle and hardly does any sports.
Compare with
inaktiv vs aktiv
active
'aktiv' and 'inaktiv' are direct opposites. Use 'aktiv' when someone does something, participates, or when something is in operation. 'inaktiv' means that someone does nothing, does not take part, or that something is not effective or is out of operation. Learners may confuse the words because they look very similar. The important part is the 'in-' at the beginning: here, it makes the meaning negative. An active member takes part; an inactive member is not taking part at the moment.
inaktiv
Mein altes Handy ist seit Monaten inaktiv, weil die SIM-Karte gesperrt ist.
My old phone has been inactive for months because the SIM card is blocked.
aktiv
Im Verein ist Ali sehr aktiv und hilft bei fast jeder Veranstaltung.
Ali is very active in the club and helps at almost every event.
In real life
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