eigene

Eigene is a German adjective meaning "own" or "one's own." It is used to express that something belongs to the subject or to the speaker, often to emphasize personal ownership or distinction from others. It is typically placed directly before a noun.

As an attributive adjective, eigen- inflects to agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun it accompanies. For example, die eigene Wohnung (feminine singular), der eigene Wagen (masculine singular), das eigene Auto (neuter singular), die eigenen Ideen (plural). The exact ending varies with gender and case, but the sense remains that the noun is owned by the subject.

Common usage examples include: Die eigene Meinung ist wichtig. (My own opinion is important.) Er möchte seine eigene Wohnung finden. (He wants to find his own apartment.) In phrases like Das ist mein eigenes Auto, das eigene modifies the noun to emphasize personal ownership.

Eigene is also used as a prefix in many compound words, forming terms that denote ownership, independence, or inner qualities, such as Eigeninitiative (self-initiative), Eigenheim (owner-occupied home), Eigenkapital (equity or own capital), und Eigenständigkeit (independence). These compounds extend the basic sense of ownership to broader attributes or resources.

Etymology and related forms: eigen derives from Germanic roots meaning “belonging to oneself.” It is semantically related to the English word own, and it appears in many German compounds to convey self-directed or self-owned qualities.

See also: Eigen-, eigenständig, Eigeninitiative, Eigenkapital, Eigenheim.