Breakdown of Ich entscheide oft gefühlsmäßig.
ich
I
oft
often
entscheiden
to decide
gefühlsmäßig
intuitively
Questions & Answers about Ich entscheide oft gefühlsmäßig.
How does the suffix -mäßig change the meaning of Gefühl here?
The suffix -mäßig turns a noun into an adjective or adverb meaning "in terms of," "according to," or "by way of." Added to das Gefühl (the feeling), gefühlsmäßig literally means "according to feeling" or "feeling-wise," which naturally translates to "intuitively" in English.
Why is there an -s- in the middle of gefühlsmäßig?
That is a linking "s" (Fugen-s). When you attach a suffix like -mäßig to certain nouns to form a new word, you often need a connecting sound to make it flow better. Because Gefühl takes an -s in the genitive case (des Gefühls), it takes an -s- here when combining with the suffix.
Is gefühlsmäßig acting as an adjective or an adverb in this sentence?
It is acting as an adverb here, describing how you decide (entscheiden). Unlike in English where we add "-ly" to turn adjectives into adverbs, German adjectives keep their exact same uninflected form when used as adverbs.
The lesson also covers -haft. Could I say gefühlshaft instead?
No, gefühlshaft isn't a word Germans typically use. While both suffixes create adjectives, they have different flavors. The suffix -mäßig usually means "in terms of [noun]" or "based on [noun]." The suffix -haft typically means "having the quality of" or "resembling" (like traumhaft for dreamlike). Since this sentence is about deciding "based on feeling," -mäßig is the correct choice.
Learn Ich entscheide oft gefühlsmäßig and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free