01
vierjährig
four-year-old
Having an age of four years.
example
Das vierjährige Kind konnte schon seinen Namen schreiben.
The four-year-old child could already write his name.
vierjährig
four-year-old / four-year
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word structure
Adjectives like 'vierjährig' (four-year-old/four-year) are formed from a number and a unit of time (here: year) with the ending '-ig'. This pattern is very productive, for example also in 'zweitägig' (lasting two days) or 'einstündig' (lasting one hour).
EXAMPLE
Wir machen eine dreitägige Wanderung in den Alpen.
We are going on a three-day hike in the Alps.
Context clues
You distinguish the meanings by the noun: if 'vierjährig' refers to a living being (child, animal), it is about age. If it refers to a thing (contract, training program, term of office), it is about duration.
EXAMPLE
Unser vierjähriger Sohn kommt bald in den Kindergarten.
Our four-year-old son will soon start kindergarten.
Use for age
To state the age of a person or animal, 'vierjährig' (four-year-old) is used only before a noun. When the adjective stands alone after the verb, you use the construction 'vier Jahre alt' (four years old).
EXAMPLE
Ein vierjähriges Pferd ist noch sehr jung.
A four-year-old horse is still very young.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'lasting four years', the adjective is often combined with nouns such as 'Amtszeit' (term of office), 'Ausbildung' (training program), 'Studium' (degree program/studies), 'Plan' (plan), or 'Vertrag' (contract).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem vierjährigen Studium suchte er sofort einen Job.
After the four-year degree program, he immediately looked for a job.
Compare with
vierjährig vs jährlich
annual / yearly
'jährlich' and 'vierjährig' look similar, but they do not mean the same thing. 'jährlich' says that something happens once per year or is valid for one year. 'vierjährig' means either four years old or lasting four years. The risk of confusion comes from the part 'jährig'. The important point is: 'jährlich' describes a repetition or validity per year. 'vierjährig' describes an age or a duration of four years.
vierjährig
Meine Nachbarin hat eine vierjährige Tochter.
My neighbor has a four-year-old daughter.
jährlich
Die Kontrolle der Heizung findet jährlich im Herbst statt.
The heating system is inspected annually in the fall.
In real life
Loading video examples...