steinig
rocky / stony
Covered with many stones or containing many stones.
EXAMPLE
Der steinige Weg führte steil bergauf.
The rocky path led steeply uphill.
steinig
rocky / stony
steinig – steiniger – am steinigsten
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
steinig
rocky
Characterized by many difficulties and therefore hard to manage.
EXAMPLE
Ihr Weg zum Erfolg war lang und steinig.
Her path to success was long and rocky.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry steinig, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | steinig |
|---|---|
| comparative | steiniger |
| superlative | am steinigsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to steinig.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to steinig.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to steinig.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Steinig' is made up of 'Stein' (stone) and the ending '-ig'. The ending forms an adjective and here indicates that something contains many stones or is characterized by stones.
EXAMPLE
Der steinige Untergrund machte das Wandern anstrengend.
The rocky ground made hiking strenuous.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'steinig' is often used with words from landscape descriptions, such as 'Weg' (path), 'Boden' (ground), 'Hang' (slope), or 'Strand' (beach).
EXAMPLE
Auf dem steinigen Strand fanden die Kinder interessante Muscheln.
The children found interesting seashells on the rocky beach.
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the fact that 'steinig' is used with abstract goals or developments. It often refers to success, a career, or a path, so no actual stones are meant.
EXAMPLE
Bis zu einer Einigung ist es noch ein steiniger Weg.
There is still a rocky road ahead before an agreement can be reached.
In real life
Loading video examples...