gütig

Gütig is a German adjective meaning benevolent, kind-hearted, or gracious. It describes people or actions marked by kindness, generosity, and mercy. The term can be used of humans as well as of figurative agents such as a benevolent deity or an institution acting with compassion. In everyday speech, more common synonyms are freundlich or nett, while gütig connotes a deeper, morally positive quality.

Etymology: The word derives from Middle High German gütig, from Old High German gūtig, related to the root gūt meaning “good” and the adjectival suffix -ig. It is connected to the broader Germanic family of words for goodness and virtuous character.

Usage notes: In modern standard German, gütig is somewhat formal and literary, and is most often found in written language, religious texts, or stylistic prose. It can describe people (eine gütige Frau) or actions (eine gütige Geste). It contrasts with more everyday terms like freundlich or nett and with terms emphasizing mercy such as barmherzig or gnädig.

Examples: Der König war gütig zu seinem Volk. Sie zeigte eine gütige Geste, indem sie den Armen half. Die Form gütig wird flektiert (eine gütige Person, dem gütigen Mann, mit gütiger Absicht).

See also: benevolence, mercy, kindness.