noun
conscience
B1
Gewissen means 'conscience'. It is a neuter noun (das Gewissen). Singular genitive adds -s (des Gewissens). The plural is Gewissen (die Gewissen) with regular plural declensions; dative plural den Gewissen, genitive plural der Gewissen. Used to talk about moral sense or conscience.
Examples
Er hat ein schlechtes Gewissen, weil er die Wahrheit verschwiegen hat.
He has a guilty conscience because he kept the truth to himself.
Ich habe ein Gewissen.
I have a conscience.
Der Arzt spendete anonym, weil er sein Gewissen beruhigen wollte.
The doctor donated anonymously because he wanted to calm his conscience.
Details
Mnemonics
visualize a small inner light or voice labeled 'Gewissen' guiding decisions
sounds like 'given sense' — imagine an inner sense given to you
das — think of 'das Gewissen' like a neutral inner compass
Notes
Gewissen usually refers to the moral sense or conscience. It is commonly used in singular; plural forms exist when referring to different consciences or types of moral sense.