großherzige

Großherzig is a German adjective meaning magnanimous, generous, or benevolent. It describes a person who acts with a large-hearted generosity and consideration for others, often placing others’ needs above one’s own. The form größherzige is the feminine singular attributive form used before feminine nouns, for example in the phrase eine größherzige Geste. The base form of the adjective is größherzig.

Etymology and usage. The term is a compound of groß (great, large) and herzig (hearty, tender-hearted), conveying the sense of a “great-hearted” character. It is primarily found in literary or formal contexts and is less common in casual spoken German, where synonyms like großzügig or gütig are more frequent. Größherzig can describe both dispositions (a person’s character) and specific actions (a gesture or decision) that reflect generosity and moral consideration.

Nuance and related terms. Größherzig emphasizes moral magnanimity and benevolence, sometimes in situations requiring sacrifice or self-restraint. Related nouns include Großherzigkeit (the quality of being large-hearted), Großzügigkeit (generosity), and Großmut (magnanimity). The term often overlaps with, but is not identical to, großzügig, which centers more on generosity of giving.

See also. Großzügigkeit, Großmut, Güte, Barmherzigkeit, Großherzigkeit. The concept is widely understood across German-speaking regions, with größherzig appearing most readily in literary or evaluative contexts.