geneigen

Geneigen is a German verb that means to incline, to be predisposed toward something, or to tilt in a figurative sense. It is used to express a personal tendency or a tendency within a situation. In everyday speech, the more common synonym for inclination is Neigung, but geneigen is found in more formal or literary contexts, especially when describing a disposition or a considered tendency.

One core usage is the phrase bin/ist geneigt (zu …) or geneigt zu glauben, …, which translates roughly as "I am inclined to believe" or "the board is inclined to approve the proposal." This construction emphasizes a provisional or non-absolute tendency rather than a definite decision. The verb can also appear with clauses introduced by dass or with an infinitive clause after zu, such as "Ich bin geneigt zu glauben, dass..." The exact choice of wording often reflects a formal register.

Grammatically, geneigen is treated as a regular verb in modern German, though it is predominantly used in the present tense with forms like bin geneigt, ist geneigt, etc., and in the past as war geneigt. The participle “geneigt” can function as a predicative adjective or be used in compound tenses with a suitable auxiliary.

Related terms include Neigung (inclination, tendency) and other phrases that express predisposition or attitude. While geneigen conveys nuance of consideration and deliberation, Neigung is more common for everyday talk about personal or generic preferences.