unwillig
unwilling
Not ready or willing to do something; reluctant.
EXAMPLE
Der unwillige Mitarbeiter weigerte sich, die zusätzlichen Aufgaben zu übernehmen.
The unwilling employee refused to take on the additional tasks.
unwillig
unwilling / reluctant
unwillig – unwilliger – am unwilligsten
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Meanings
unwillig
annoyed
Annoyed and displeased; someone's disapproval can be seen in their expression, a gesture, or a sound.
EXAMPLE
Sie schüttelte unwillig den Kopf und wandte sich ab.
She shook her head disapprovingly and turned away.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry unwillig, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | unwillig |
|---|---|
| comparative | unwilliger |
| superlative | am unwilligsten |
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 unwillig.
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 unwillig.
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 unwillig.
Usage tips
Word formation
'unwillig' (unwilling) consists of 'un-' and 'willig' (willing). Here, the prefix 'un-' negates the willingness expressed in the word 'willig'.
EXAMPLE
Der unwillige Schüler packte seine Sachen nur langsam ein.
The unwilling student packed up his things very slowly.
Sentence pattern
'unwillig' (unwilling) is often followed by an infinitive clause with 'zu': Someone is 'unwillig, etwas zu tun' (unwilling to do something). The person is the subject of the adjective.
EXAMPLE
Sie war unwillig, die Verantwortung für den Fehler zu übernehmen.
She was unwilling to take responsibility for the mistake.
Typical usage
'unwillig' (unwilling) can describe not only a person, but also their cooperation, reaction, or consent. In such combinations, the adjective shows that something happens only reluctantly.
EXAMPLE
Nach langer Diskussion gab er seine unwillige Zustimmung.
After a long discussion, he gave his reluctant consent.
In real life
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