Spürsinn

/ˈʃpyːɐ̯ˌzɪn/

der noun B2

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

N Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Common Domain General Tone Neutral
Word fingerprint: Register: neutral. Era: current. Frequency: common. Domain: general. Connotation: neutral.

Meaning

  1. a nose for something, instinct, flair

    Built from Spür (nose for, instinct (from spüren, to sense)) + Sinn (sense).

    • Der Detektiv hat einen ausgezeichneten Spürsinn für Lügen.

      The detective has an excellent nose for lies.

N Category Thing Concreteness Concrete Animacy Inanimate Countability Countable Scope Individual
Meaning fingerprint: Category: thing. Concreteness: concrete. Animacy: inanimate. Countability: countable. Scope: individual.

Made of

  • Spür nose for, instinct (from spüren, to sense)
  • Sinn sense

Usage notes

Literally sensing-sense, an instinctive, almost physical knack for noticing something others miss.

Practice

1 What does Spürsinn mean?

2 Fill the gap: Der Detektiv hat einen ausgezeichneten ___ für Lügen.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches Spürsinn?

nouncompound

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