zappelig
fidgety
Restless and nervous, so that one is constantly moving and can hardly sit still.
EXAMPLE
Das zappelige Kind konnte während der Untersuchung kaum stillsitzen.
The fidgety child could hardly sit still during the examination.
zappelig
fidgety
zappelig – zappeliger – am zappeligsten
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry zappelig, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | zappelig |
|---|---|
| comparative | zappeliger |
| superlative | am zappeligsten |
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 zappelig.
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 zappelig.
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 zappelig.
Usage tips
Word family
'Zappelig' (fidgety) belongs to the word family of 'zappeln' (to fidget). The ending '-ig' forms an adjective here and describes a person who tends to fidget.
EXAMPLE
Vor wichtigen Prüfungen wird mein Bruder immer zappelig.
My brother always gets fidgety before important exams.
Typical collocations
'Zappelig' (fidgety) is often used for people and situations in which someone cannot remain still. Typical collocations include 'ein zappeliges Kind' (a fidgety child), 'zappelig werden' (to become fidgety), and 'zappelig vor Aufregung sein' (to be fidgety with excitement).
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Auftritt wurde die Sängerin hinter der Bühne immer zappeliger.
The singer became increasingly fidgety backstage before the performance.
Colloquial language
'Zappelig' (fidgety) is mainly colloquial and is especially often used for children or in everyday conversations.
EXAMPLE
Die Lehrerin bemerkte, dass die zappeligen Kinder dem Unterricht kaum noch folgten.
The teacher noticed that the fidgety children could hardly follow the lesson anymore.
In real life
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