uninhibited
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uninhibited
Without inhibitions or consideration for social rules and the feelings of others. Depending on the context, it can mean open and unselfconscious, but also brazen or inconsiderate.
Er nahm sich ungeniert das letzte Stück Kuchen, ohne zu fragen.
He uninhibitedly took the last piece of cake without asking.
The word is derived from the verb 'sich genieren' (to feel embarrassed), which means 'sich schämen' (to be ashamed) or 'verlegen sein' (to be embarrassed). The prefix 'un-' negates this, so 'ungeniert' (uninhibited) literally means 'ohne Scham' (without shame) or 'ohne Hemmungen' (without inhibitions).
Das Kind fragte den Fremden ungeniert nach seinem Alter.
The child uninhibitedly asked the stranger his age.
'Ungeniert' (uninhibitedly) is almost always used as an adverb. It describes the manner in which an action is carried out — namely without regard for social conventions.
Er gähnte ungeniert mitten im Vortrag.
He yawned uninhibitedly in the middle of the lecture.
Although 'ungeniert' (uninhibited) can simply mean 'unbefangen' (unselfconscious), it often has a slightly negative connotation. It can suggest that someone is not only uninhibited, but also somewhat brazen or inconsiderate.
Sie hat sich ungeniert über die laute Musik der Nachbarn beschwert.
She complained uninhibitedly about the neighbors' loud music.
shameless
Schamlos and ungeniert both describe behavior without any apparent inhibitions. Schamlos is a clear moral condemnation based on a lack of decency. Ungeniert can also seem brazen, but it can also simply mean uninhibited or self-unconscious; the assessment of the behavior is therefore decisive.
Er sprach ungeniert vor allen über seine eigenen privaten Probleme.
He openly talked about his own private problems in front of everyone.
Er sprach schamlos vor allen über die privaten Probleme seiner Kollegin.
He shamelessly talked about his colleague’s private problems in front of everyone.
