das Gewissen

Plural: die Gewissen
Based on: ge-, wissen
Goethe B1 Noun #1041 Noun
1.

the conscience

(In the sense of the part that feels guilty. NOT for the pure idea of being aware. It's actually modeled on an ancient Greek word that meant "the with-knower". That part in you that "knows" what you do, including when you do something wrong.)
Examples
  • Sein Gewissen plagte ihn, nachdem er gelogen hatte.
  • His conscience troubled him after he had lied.

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Sources for Etymology:

My Articles

The Meaning of “das Gewissen”

The German word for "conscience" is "das Gewissen". And even though they look nothing alike, they're the same word. Today, we'll find out all about it.

Vocab: das Gewissen, gewissenlos, gewiss, ungewiss, die Gewissheit, gewisse

Read article →

Questions and Comments

Do you have questions about the usage or meaning of “Gewissen”? Just ask here and I’ll try to clear it up.

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2 Comments
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Adam
Adam

You want to say “conscience.”
“I have a guilty conscience.”
For the broader term, its consciousness.
Which is, “das Bewusstsein”, I think??
Also typo, “being aware.” not “being away”

By the way, your dictionary is amazing. If I’m reading something, I always look it up in your dictionary first.

Official dictionaries overwhelm you with irrelevant information, but leave out the important parts.

You give all the necessary insights for a learner.

Thanks!

How many meanings does the German word 'Gewissen' have?

Gewissen has 1 distinct meaning: 1. the conscience.

What is the gender of 'Gewissen'?

das

What is the plural of 'Gewissen'?

die Gewissen

What is 'Gewissen' related to?

The word 'Gewissen' is related to ge- and wissen.

Where can I learn more about 'Gewissen'?

Here are some articles where you can learn more about 'Gewissen':

The Meaning of “das Gewissen”
The German word for "conscience" is "das Gewissen". And even though they look nothing alike, they're the same word. Today, we'll find out all about it.
Vocab: das Gewissen, gewissenlos, gewiss, ungewiss, die Gewissheit, gewisse
Read article