Der Ehrgeiz
Example: Sein großer Ehrgeiz trieb ihn zu außergewöhnlichen Leistungen.
Definition
"Der Ehrgeiz" refers to a strong desire and determination to achieve success or excellence, often motivating a person to strive for exceptional accomplishments. It embodies ambition and the drive to reach high goals, as in the example: 'Sein großer Ehrgeiz trieb ihn zu außergewöhnlichen Leistungen.'
Etymology
The word "der Ehrgeiz" comes from the combination of the German words "Ehre" meaning 'honor' and "Geiz" meaning 'greed' or 'desire.' Originally, it implied a craving for honor or recognition. Did you know that the word once had a slightly negative connotation, as 'Geiz' often refers to stinginess?
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"Der Ehrgeiz" appears in the Vocaplus list "German - General - (C1) - set 1", containing 120 commonly used words.
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