Knauserigkeit

Knauserigkeit is a German noun describing the trait of being extremely stingy or tightfisted with money and resources. It denotes an excessive reluctance to spend or share, even when spending would be reasonable or socially expected. The term carries a negative connotation and is typically used to criticize someone’s parsimonious behavior, though in casual speech it can be used playfully to describe someone who is particularly careful with expenditures.

Etymology: The word derives from the adjective knauserig, meaning stingy or tightfisted, with the noun form referring to the quality or behavior itself.

Usage and nuance: Knauserigkeit is stronger and more pejorative than Sparsamkeit (frugality) and is often associated with selfishness or miserliness rather than prudent budgeting. It can describe individuals as well as practices, such as a company’s budget cuts that seem counterproductive. The term is common in everyday German and appears in media, literature, and colloquial speech; it can convey criticism or humorous reproach depending on context.

Related terms: Geiz (greed or stinginess) and Geizkragen (a pejorative label for a stingy person) are closely related, while Sparsamkeit denotes careful, even virtuous, thrift.

See also: Sparsamkeit, Geiz, Geizkragen.