sinnige

Sinnige is a German adjective form derived from Sinn (sense). It is commonly translated as meaningful, sensible, or poignant, and it is used to describe things that possess substance, significance, or emotional resonance. The word is more likely to appear in literary or formal prose than in everyday speech, where synonyms such as sinnvoll, bedeutungsvoll, or sinnreich are often preferred.

Usage and nuance

Sinnige can describe thoughts, statements, works of art, or observations that carry clear meaning or depth. It can convey both intellectual coherence and emotional impact, depending on context. The nuance differs from synonyms: sinnvoll emphasizes practical sense or usefulness, bedeutungsvoll highlights significance, and sinnreich suggests wit or richness of meaning. In many contexts, sinnig carries a subtle, reflective tone, sometimes with a hint of moral or contemplative value.

Grammatical notes

As an adjective, sinnige inflects according to gender, number, and case. For example: eine sinnige Bemerkung (a meaningful remark), sinnige Gedanken (meaningful thoughts, plural), die sinnigen Worte (the meaningful words). In compound or emphatic constructions, other endings follow standard German declension patterns.

Related terms

Related concepts include Sinn (sense), Sinnvoll (useful or meaningful in a practical sense), and Sinnlichkeit (the capacity to perceive or appreciate sense or beauty). Sinnig is often contrasted with sinnlos (senseless) and unsinnig (nonsense or unsound) to express a spectrum of meaning.

See also

Sinn, Sinnvoll, Sinnlichkeit, sinnreich, bedeutungsvoll.