das Lebensziel
life goal
A personal goal that someone wants to achieve in their life and that gives their life direction.
EXAMPLE
Mein Lebensziel ist es, als Ärztin Menschen zu helfen.
My life goal is to help people as a doctor.
das Lebensziel
life goal
das Lebensziel, die Lebensziele
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Lebensziel, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Lebensziele |
| genitive | des Lebenszieles |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Lebensziel | die Lebensziele |
| accusative | das Lebensziel | die Lebensziele |
| dative | dem Lebensziel | den Lebenszielen |
| genitive | des Lebenszieles des Lebensziels | der Lebensziele |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Lebensziel' (life goal) consists of 'Leben' (life) and 'Ziel' (goal), joined by a linking -s-. The component 'Lebens-' indicates that the goal relates to one's own life.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat schon früh über ihre Lebensziele nachgedacht.
She thought about her life goals from an early age.
Infinitive with 'zu'
You can describe a life goal using the pattern 'Mein Lebensziel ist es, … zu …' (My life goal is to …). The action appears at the end as an infinitive with 'zu'; a comma comes before the infinitive phrase.
EXAMPLE
Mein Lebensziel ist es, ein eigenes Unternehmen zu gründen.
My life goal is to start my own business.
Typical collocations
Common phrases include 'sich ein Lebensziel setzen' (to set oneself a life goal), 'ein Lebensziel verfolgen' (to pursue a life goal), and 'sein Lebensziel erreichen' (to achieve one's life goal). Using 'verfolgen' (to pursue) emphasizes that someone is actively working toward the goal.
EXAMPLE
Trotz vieler Schwierigkeiten verfolgt er sein Lebensziel weiter.
Despite many difficulties, he continues to pursue his life goal.
In real life
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