fleißige

Fleißige is the inflected form of the German adjective fleißig, meaning diligent or hardworking. It is used to describe a person or task characterized by steady effort, thoroughness, and perseverance. In everyday usage, fleißig and its inflected forms appear both before nouns (attributive position) and, less commonly, after a linking verb in predicative position.

Etymology and meaning: The adjective fleißig derives from the noun Fleiß, which denotes diligence. The suffix -ig turns the noun into an adjective meaning “having or full of the quality of.” The core meaning remains consistent across contexts: someone who applies themselves, works diligently, and is industrious.

Grammar and usage: When fleißig is used attributively before a noun, its ending changes according to gender, number, and definiteness. Examples include:

- ein fleißiger Mann (masculine, singular, strong declension)

- eine fleißige Schülerin (feminine, singular)

- das fleißige Kind (neuter, singular)

- die fleißigen Lehrer (plural, after a definite article)

The form fleißige appears in several singular and plural contexts as part of the declined adjectives:

- singular feminine or neuter nominative with definite article: die fleißige Lehrerin, das fleißige Kind

- plural after definite article: die fleißigen Lehrer

As an adverb, fleißig means diligently and does not change form: Sie arbeitet fleißig.

Synonyms and nuance: Related terms include tüchtig, arbeitsam, eifrig, and gewissenhaft. While similar in meaning, each can carry subtle connotations in different contexts or registers.

In summary, fleißige is a common inflected form of fleißig used to describe diligence in German, with usage governed by standard German adjective declension rules.