sensuellen

Sensuellen is the inflected form of the German adjective sensuell, which means sensual or sensuous. As a core meaning, sensuell describes things related to the senses or capable of exciting the senses, and it is often used to convey a sense of erotic or aesthetic appeal. In practice, sensuell can describe art, atmosphere, or physical charm in a more evocative or passionate way than the more neutral sinnlich, which denotes sensory perception or emotional reaction without strong erotic connotations.

Etymology and use: sensuell derives from French sensuel, itself from Latin sensus. In modern German it is commonly found in literary, artistic, or promotional language and carries connotations of heightened sensory or erotic impression. Its precise nuance depends on context; sensuell can imply deliberate allure, while sinnlich emphasizes straightforward sensory experience.

Declension and grammar: sensuell is declined like a regular adjective after determiners. In plural with a definite article, the form is sensuellen (die sensuellen Bilder; den sensuellen Bildern). In the singular, after der/die/das, it appears as sensueller (masculine nominative), sinnliche (feminine nominative), or sensuelles (neuter nominative/accusative). Without a definite article or in strong declension, endings differ (z. B. sinnliche Erfahrung).

Usage note: In formal or scientific writing, sensuell is less common; authors may prefer sinnlich or sensorisch depending on meaning. Sensuell tends to carry a more subjective or artistic register and may be interpreted as erotically charged in some contexts.

Translations: English equivalents include sensual, sensuous, or, in some contexts, sensory, depending on nuance.

See also: Sinnlichkeit; Sinnlichkeitssinn; sensorisch.