fleißiger

Fleißiger is the comparative form of the German adjective fleißig, meaning diligent or hardworking. It is used to compare levels of diligence between people or groups. For example, Er ist fleißiger als sein Bruder. The corresponding superlative is am fleißigsten or der fleißigste, depending on the syntactic position.

Etymology and meaning: The word combines the noun Fleiß, meaning diligence or industry, with the suffix -ig to form an adjective. The concept underlying fleißig is a positive cultural value associated with consistent effort, reliability, and perseverance in work or study.

Grammar and usage: Like other German adjectives, fleißig is declined according to the surrounding determiner. With a definite article: der fleißige Mann, die fleißige Frau, das fleißige Kind. With an indefinite article or no article: ein fleißiger Mann, eine fleißige Frau, ein fleißiges Kind; or plural fleißige Männer, fleißige Frauen. The comparative form is fleißiger (e.g., Sie arbeitet fleißiger als ich). The superlative is der fleißigste, die fleißigste, das fleißigste, or am fleißigsten when used adverbially (e.g., Er arbeitet am fleißigsten von allen). In adverbial use, fleißig functions as an adverb and may appear in the comparative form fleißiger.

Usage and nuance: Fleißig fosters a positive connotation of industriousness and perseverance. It is commonly paired with verbs like arbeiten or lernen (to work or study diligently). Related expressions include Fleiß zahlt sich aus (diligence pays off) and idioms such as fleißig wie eine Biene. Synonyms conveying slight nuance differences include arbeitsam and ehrgeizig.

See also: Fleiß (the noun), fleißig (the base adjective), related German terms for diligence and industry.