01
sinnvoll
sensible
Having a recognizable meaning, purpose, or benefit; reasonable and logical.
example
Es ist sinnvoll, sich vor einer Prüfung gut vorzubereiten.
It is sensible to prepare well before an exam.
sinnvoll
sensible
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of 'Sinn' (meaning/sense) and the ending '-voll' (full of). It literally means 'full of meaning'. The ending '-voll' is often used to express that something is filled with a quality.
EXAMPLE
Eine gute Planung ist für das Projekt sehr sinnvoll.
Good planning is very sensible for the project.
Typical sentence patterns
'Sinnvoll' (sensible) is very often used in the impersonal construction 'Es ist sinnvoll, ...' (It is sensible to ...), followed by an infinitive clause with 'zu' or a subordinate clause with 'dass'. This structure expresses a recommendation or a logical conclusion.
EXAMPLE
Es ist sinnvoll, vor der Reise eine Versicherung abzuschließen.
It is sensible to take out insurance before the trip.
Typical collocations
The adjective 'sinnvoll' (sensible) often describes abstract nouns such as actions, plans, or investments. Typical combinations are: 'eine sinnvolle Ergänzung' (a sensible addition), 'eine sinnvolle Maßnahme' (a sensible measure), 'eine sinnvolle Investition' (a sensible investment), or 'eine sinnvolle Nutzung' (sensible use).
EXAMPLE
Der Kauf von Winterreifen war eine sinnvolle Investition in unsere Sicherheit.
Buying winter tires was a sensible investment in our safety.
Compare with
sinnvoll vs hilfreich
helpful
'sinnvoll' and 'hilfreich' can both say something positive about an action, idea, or thing. 'sinnvoll' means that something has a good purpose, is logical, or seems sensible. 'hilfreich' means that something provides concrete support or makes a problem easier. The words can be confused because something sensible is often also helpful. The difference is: 'sinnvoll' is more about the purpose, while 'hilfreich' is more about the support.
sinnvoll
Vor der Prüfung ist es sinnvoll, die alten Aufgaben noch einmal zu üben.
Before the exam, it is sensible to practice the old exercises again.
hilfreich
Die Notizen meiner Kollegin waren sehr hilfreich, weil ich beim Termin krank war.
My colleague's notes were very helpful because I was sick during the appointment.
In real life
Loading video examples...