freiwillig
Translation
voluntary, optional, willingly
Examples
Er macht freiwillige Arbeit im Krankenhaus.
He does voluntary work at the hospital.
Sie hat freiwillig geholfen.
She helped voluntarily.
Die Teilnahme ist freiwillig.
Participation is voluntary.
Grammar Patterns
to do sth. voluntarily He did that voluntarily.
Similar Words
Synonyms: ehrenamtlich (honorary), spontan (spontaneous); Antonyms: gezwungen (forced), obligatorisch (obligatory)
Etymology
Derived from 'frei' (free) and 'Wille' (will). It signifies something done out of one's own free will.
Memory Tips
Connect it to the English phrase 'free will' - 'freier Wille' in German.