German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Selfish" in German: egoistisch
egoistisch
Selfish in German is egoistisch. You can say Das war egoistisch or Er denkt egoistisch. Selbstsüchtig is a close synonym; Egoismus is the noun.
Flatmate talk
Den ganzen Kühlschrank zu blockieren ist egoistisch.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce egoistisch
Say it
eh-go-ISS-tish
/eɡoˈɪstɪʃ/
eh-go-ISS-tish. Stress ISS. Soft sch as sh.
"Selfish" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| egoistisch | selfish Default adjective. | Default adjective. |
| Egoismus | selfishness The noun. | The noun. |
| selbstsüchtig | self-centered / selfish Slightly heavier tone. | Slightly heavier tone. |
| zu egoistisch | too selfish Softened criticism. | Softened criticism. |
How to use egoistisch in real life
- 1Flatmate talk
Den ganzen Kühlschrank zu blockieren ist egoistisch.
Blocking the whole fridge is selfish.
Egoistisch as predicate.
- 2Relationship chat
Manchmal wirkst du egoistisch, wenn du nie fragst.
Sometimes you seem selfish when you never ask.
Direct but with du.
- 3Team project
Sein Plan wirkt egoistisch für die Gruppe.
His plan seems selfish for the group.
Egoistisch + für.
Mistakes English speakers make with egoistisch
Incorrect: Er ist selfish.
Correct: Er ist egoistisch.
Use egoistisch.
Incorrect: egoistische Mann
Correct: egoistischer Mann
Masculine nominative needs -er.
Good to know
Calling someone egoistisch is strong in German; soften with manchmal or ein bisschen if you want to keep the peace. In debates, gesunder Egoismus can even sound like healthy self-interest.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
After someone canceled on friends
ChatPal
Fandest du seine Absage egoistisch?
Did you find his cancelation selfish?
You
Ein bisschen egoistisch, ja.
A bit selfish, yes.
ChatPal
Sollen wir das ansprechen?
Should we bring it up?
You
Später. Sonst klingt alles nur egoistisch zurück.
Later. Otherwise everything just sounds selfish back.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Selfish" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Selfish" in German
How do you say selfish?
Egoistisch.
Selfishness?
Egoismus.
Softer synonym?
Selbstsüchtig is close; soften with ein bisschen egoistisch.
Too harsh?
Add manchmal or wirkt egoistisch instead of ist egoistisch.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
