Qual
/kvaːl/feminine
The English word anguish is translated into German as Qual. Wiktionary also lists tiefer Schmerz.
Meaning: extreme pain (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Qual | /kvaːl/ | feminine |
| tiefer Schmerz | masculine |
Qual refers to extreme pain. You can also use the reflexive verb sich quälen, which can be used both literally (to physically torture oneself) and figuratively (to struggle or toil through a difficult task). Relatedly, quälen means to cause to suffer pain, while leiden and sich quälen both mean to suffer pain.
Which one should you use?
While Qual often implies an active, agonizing torment, tiefer Schmerz is a more descriptive, slightly more formal way to express profound emotional or physical pain.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Qual is Qualen, which is frequently used to describe multiple instances of suffering or various forms of torment.
How do you pronounce it?
/kvaːl/
Did you know?
- When Germans describe a 'soul-crushing' anguish, they use the word Weltschmerz. This describes a specific type of sadness caused by the realization that the physical world can never satisfy the demands of the mind.
- The German word Schmerz is a distant relative of the English word 'smart'. In older English, to 'smart' meant to feel a sharp, stinging pain, rather than to be intelligent.
- The word Qual is used in the phrase Qual der Wahl, which translates to 'the torture of choice'. It is used when someone is so overwhelmed by too many good options that it causes distress.
Examples in context
- unendliche QualEndless anguish
- unbeschreiblicher KummerIndescribable sorrow
- Ich fühle mich von meinem Job völlig geplagt.I feel completely tormented by my job.
- Die Qual war kaum zu ertragen.The anguish was almost unbearable.
- Sie litt unter der Qual der Entscheidung.She suffered from the anguish of the decision.
- Seine Qual war in seinen Augen zu sehen.His anguish could be seen in his eyes.
Example conversation
Sarah is comforting Maximilian after a tragedy.
- SarahWie geht es dir heute, Maximilian?How are you doing today, Maximilian?
- MaximilianDie Qual ist immer noch sehr groß.The anguish is still very great.
- SarahIch kann mir deinen Schmerz kaum vorstellen.I can hardly imagine your pain.
- MaximilianDanke, Sarah, dass du für mich da bist.Thank you, Sarah, for being there for me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “anguish” translations and entries Qual, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Qual, Schmerz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
