neugierig
curious
Having the desire or strong interest to discover, learn, or see something new.
EXAMPLE
Kinder sind von Natur aus neugierig und stellen viele Fragen.
Children are naturally curious and ask many questions.
neugierig
curious
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Meanings
neugierig sein auf
curious about
To be eager and excited about something in the future; to want to know what something will be like.
EXAMPLE
Ich bin schon sehr neugierig auf deine neue Wohnung.
I'm already very curious about your new apartment.
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of 'neu' (new) and 'Gier' (greed/desire). So it literally describes a 'desire for new things'. This origin helps explain the intense curiosity that the word expresses.
EXAMPLE
Seine neugierige Art hat ihn schon in viele interessante Situationen gebracht.
His curious nature has already gotten him into many interesting situations.
Context clue
The preposition 'auf' is a clear signal for the second meaning. Without a preposition, 'neugierig' (curious) usually means that someone is eager to learn. With 'auf', it expresses that you are excited about something in the future.
EXAMPLE
Der neugierige Nachbar schaute über den Zaun.
The curious neighbor looked over the fence.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'eager to learn', 'neugierig' (curious) is often used in combinations such as 'neugierige Fragen stellen' (to ask curious questions), 'ein neugieriger Blick' (a curious look), or 'jemanden neugierig machen' (to make someone curious).
EXAMPLE
Der Trailer hat mich auf den Film neugierig gemacht.
The trailer made me curious about the film.
Fixed preposition
When you are excited about something in the future, you use the fixed expression 'neugierig sein auf' (to be curious about), followed by the accusative. The preposition 'auf' cannot be replaced here.
EXAMPLE
Wir sind schon sehr neugierig auf dein neues Haus.
We're already very curious about your new house.
Compare with
neugierig vs hungrig
hungry
Both neugierig and hungrig auf etwas can express a strong interest in knowledge or new experiences. Neugierig describes the desire to find something out, while hungrig auf emphasizes an especially strong desire. Use neugierig for interest and hungrig auf Wissen for a particularly strong drive to gain knowledge.
neugierig
Mia ist neugierig auf die neue Ausstellung und möchte viel darüber erfahren.
Mia is curious about the new exhibition and wants to find out a lot about it.
hungrig
Mia ist hungrig auf Wissen und liest deshalb jeden Abend über die Ausstellung.
Mia is hungry for knowledge, so she reads about the exhibition every evening.
In real life
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