böse
/ˈbøːzə/
The English word 'angry' in German can be translated as böse, verärgert or zornig.
Meaning: displaying anger (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| böse | /ˈbøːzə/ |
| verärgert | /fɛɐ̯ˈʔɛʁɡɐt/ /fɐ-/ |
| zornig | /ˈtsɔʁnɪç/ /ˈtsɔʁnɪk/ |
The phrase böse aussehen can mean someone looks angry, but it can also mean they look 'evil' or 'malicious' depending on the context.
Which one should you use?
verärgert is a more precise, slightly more formal term for being annoyed or irritated by a specific situation or person. zornig describes a much stronger, more intense or even poetic sense of wrath or fury compared to the other terms.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbøːzə/
Did you know?
- The German word böse shares a common ancestor with the English word 'boast', both stemming from a root meaning 'to blow up' or 'swell'.
- In German, you can use böse to describe a 'bad' smell or a 'mean' wind, extending the idea of anger to unpleasant sensory experiences.
- In some contexts, saying someone is böse can be a playful way to call them 'cheeky' or 'mischievous', especially when talking to pets or children.
Examples in context
- Bist du ihm böse?Are you angry at him?This sentence shows how to ask if someone is angry at him using böse.Tatoeba #2924992 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2450130 by sharptoothed
- Bist du mir böse?Are you angry with me?This sentence shows how to ask if someone is angry with me using böse.Tatoeba #3050850 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1229091 by Eldad
- Tom sah böse aus.Tom looked angry.This sentence uses böse to describe how someone looked.Tatoeba #8243140 by MisterTrouser, translation #1877506 by CK
- Ich bin wütend auf dich!I am angry with you!
- Diese Situation verärgert mich sehr.This situation annoys me greatly.
- Ich bin über dein Verhalten empört!I am outraged by your behavior!
- Warum bist du so sauer?Why are you so mad?
- Mich nervt es, dass du immer unpünktlich bist.It irritates me that you are always late.
- Er war zornig auf seinen Kollegen wegen des Fehlers.He was furious with his colleague because of the mistake.
- Ich bin stinksauer auf dich!I am extremely angry with you!
- Ich bin total sauer auf dich!I am totally mad at you!
- Sie sind empört über die Entscheidung.You are outraged by the decision.
- Mich nervt es tierisch, wenn du ständig zu spät kommst!It annoys me incredibly when you are always late!
- 292 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are discussing a misunderstanding.
- JuliaBist du mir wegen gestern böse?Are you angry with me because of yesterday?
- MaximilianNein, ich bin gar nicht böse.No, I am not angry at all.
- JuliaDann bin ich sehr erleichtert.Then I am very relieved.
- MaximilianKeine Sorge, Julia, alles ist gut.Don't worry, Julia, everything is fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “angry” translations and entries böse, verärgert, zornig, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries böse, zornig, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
