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einsam
/ˈaɪnzaːm/
lonely
Sie fühlte sich sehr einsam in der neuen Stadt.
She felt very lonely in the new city.
general
Feeling lonely or isolated, often due to lack of companionship or social interaction.
Nach dem Umzug war er oft einsam.
After moving, he often felt lonely.
Die alte Dame lebte einsam in ihrem Haus.
The old lady lived alone in her house.
Can describe both emotional loneliness and physical isolation.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Emotional vs. Physical
While 'einsam' can describe physical solitude, it often carries emotional weight, unlike 'allein' which is more neutral.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
In German, 'einsam' is more about emotional loneliness, while 'allein' is more about being physically alone.
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'einzam', from 'ein' (one) + '-sam' (suffix indicating state). Literally 'one-ish' or 'alone-ish'.
Usage Notes
Often used to describe emotional states rather than just physical solitude. Can be used both literally and metaphorically.
Word Breakdown
ein
one
root-sam
state of being
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