adjective
inner, internal
B1
Inner: adjective meaning 'inner' or 'internal', referring to inside or interior aspects (e.g., inner circle, internal organs). It is gradable (e.g., innerer, innerstes). Not a participle; used attributively and predicatively. Contrast with außen/outer; common in spatial and metaphorical contexts. Used in everyday and formal German.
Examples
Sein innerer Wunsch war es, die Welt zu sehen.
His inner desire was to see the world.
Das Management entschied, dass nur der innere Kreis informiert wurde, weil das Projekt bis zur Veröffentlichung vertraulich bleiben sollte.
Management decided that only the inner circle would be informed because the project was to remain confidential until publication.
Die inneren Abläufe des Unternehmens sind vertraulich.
The company's internal processes are confidential.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine the inside of a house and tag that image 'inner' to recall 'inner' = inside/internal.
Sounds like the English word 'inner'.
Notes
Often appears in inflected forms (innerer, inneres, innere, inneren). 'Inner' can be used more abstractly (inner thoughts) or physically (inner part).