adjective
voluntary, voluntarily
A2
Means 'voluntary' or 'voluntarily', used as adjective or adverb. It is gradable (freiwilliger, am freiwilligsten). Common antonyms: gezwungen, zwanghaft. Not a participle. No special preposition required; appears attributively, predicatively or adverbially to mark actions done by choice. Often used in contexts like volunteer work, voluntary resignation, or voluntary participation.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Er arbeitet freiwillig im Tierheim.
He works at the animal shelter voluntarily.
Die Teilnahme ist freiwillig.
Participation is voluntary.
Die Helfer meldeten sich freiwillig, weil sie die Situation nicht ignorieren wollten.
The helpers volunteered because they did not want to ignore the situation.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Picture someone raising their hand willingly to help (voluntary action).
frei + willig — 'free-willing' = voluntary.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Used for actions done by choice rather than obligation.