sinnig

Sinnig is a German adjective that describes someone or something as rational, reasonable, or sound-minded. It is used to denote judgments, plans, or actions that are well thought out, prudent, and aligned with common sense. In everyday language sinnig is close in meaning to vernünftig, sinnvoll, or klug. The term can also appear in a literary or evaluative sense to mark wit or aptness, as in a sinnige Bemerkung, meaning a concise, pointed remark.

Antonymy and nuance: The opposite is unsinnig, meaning nonsensical or irrational. While sinnvoll and vernünftig emphasize practical reasonableness, sinnig can carry a slightly more stylistic or proverbial tone in some contexts. In compounds, the sense of prudence or foresight often remains prominent, as in vorsinnig (cautious, prudent).

Etymology and usage: Sinnig derives from Sinn, meaning sense or meaning, with the adjectival derivation common in German. The word appears in standard German and has historical usage in older texts; in modern colloquial speech it is somewhat more formal or literary than more everyday alternatives such as vernünftig or sinnvoll.

Examples: Es ist sinnvoll, zuerst die Kosten zu prüfen. Es wäre sinnvoll, diese Frage mit Bedacht anzugehen. Eine sinnige Bemerkung kann eine Debatte auf den Punkt bringen.

See also: Sinn, Sinnvoll, Vernünftig, Unsinn, Vorsinnig.