acquire a habit
It takes about three weeks to acquire a habit.
Es dauert etwa drei Wochen, um sich eine Gewohnheit anzueignen.
sich eine Gewohnheit aneignen
Children acquire habits from their parents.
Kinder eignen sich Gewohnheiten von ihren Eltern an.
She acquired the habit of waking up early after moving to the countryside.
Sie eignete sich die Gewohnheit an, früh aufzustehen, nachdem sie aufs Land gezogen war.
Often used in contexts of learning or adopting behaviors over time.
Kollokationen
Verwandte Ausdrücke
Profi-Tipp
Common Mistake
Avoid using 'erwerben' (to acquire) in German for habits, as it sounds unnatural. Instead, use 'sich aneignen' or 'sich angewöhnen'.
Goldene Regel
Contextual Fit
Use 'acquire a habit' when the habit is being formed intentionally or through repeated action, not for innate behaviors.
Wortursprung
From Latin 'acquirere' (to seek in addition) + Old French 'habit' (condition, practice), ultimately from Latin 'habitus' (condition, appearance). The phrase emerged in English in the 17th century, initially in legal contexts before broadening to behavioral contexts.
Verwendungshinweise
The phrase is neutral and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It implies a gradual process of adopting a behavior, often through repetition or exposure. In German, 'sich eine Gewohnheit aneignen' is the most direct equivalent, though 'sich angewöhnen' (to get used to) can also be used depending on context.