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Ewigkeit
/ˈeːvɪçkaɪ̯t/
eternity
Die Liebe zwischen ihnen schien eine Ewigkeit zu dauern.
Their love seemed to last an eternity.
formalliterary
An infinite or seemingly infinite period of time; eternity.
In der Ewigkeit gibt es keine Zeit.
In eternity, there is no time.
Often used in philosophical, religious, or poetic contexts to describe timelessness or infinite duration.
informal
A very long time; an age.
Ich habe auf dich gewartet, was hat das gedauert! Das war ja eine Ewigkeit!
I waited for you, what took you so long! That was an age!
In everyday speech, it can be used hyperbolically to express impatience or exaggeration.
Collocations
in Ewigkeitfor eternityfür immer und ewigforever and ever
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Literal vs. Figurative Use
While 'Ewigkeit' can mean literal eternity, it's often used figuratively to describe something that feels very long or endless.
Gold Rule
Capitalization
Always capitalize 'Ewigkeit' as it is a German noun.
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'ewickeit', from Old High German 'ēwig' (eternal) + '-heit' (suffix forming abstract nouns).
Usage Notes
In religious contexts, 'Ewigkeit' often refers to divine or spiritual eternity. In secular contexts, it can describe something that feels endless or timeless.
Word Breakdown
ewig
eternal
root-heit
state or quality of
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