gehörige

gehörige is the attributive form of the German adjective gehörig, meaning belonging, proper, or appropriate. The word derives from the verb gehören (to belong) and is used in contexts where something is considered fitting for a person, situation, or category. In addition to its sense of belonging, gehörig can express that something is due or proper in a given context, for example, das gehörige Maß an Geduld (the proper amount of patience) or das gehörige Interesse (the appropriate interest).

Usage and forms

gehörig appears before a noun and agrees with gender, number, and case. After a definite article or other determiner, it typically takes a weak ending (in the singular, often the form gehörige; in the plural, gehörigen). Common collocations include gehörige Unterlagen (the relevant documents), das gehörige Maß (the proper amount), and mit dem gehörigen Respekt (with due respect). In indefinite contexts you can see forms like ein gehöriger Fehler or eine gehörige Portion Geduld. In contexts without a determiner, strong endings arise, such as gehörige Teile or gehörige Hinweise.

Distinctions and register

gehörige is common in formal and written German, including legal, administrative, and scholarly prose. It contrasts with the more colloquial sense of belonging expressed by phrases using the verb gehören or other constructions. The noun form relating to belonging people is typically Angehörige (with An-), which designates relatives or dependents; gehörige itself is strictly an adjective form, not a standalone noun.

Summary

gehörige conveys that something is due, fitting, or belonging in a given context and is a typical adjective in formal German, used across a range of fixed expressions to denote appropriateness or relevance.