slecht
/slɛxt/
The Dutch word for bad is slecht.
slecht is used to describe something that is unfavorable or negative in a qualitative sense, such as bad quality. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'badly' or 'poorly' when modifying a verb.
Meaning: unfavorable, negative (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
As an attributive adjective, the word changes based on the noun it describes. It takes the inflectional ending -e when it precedes a common gender noun (de-word) or is used as an attributive adjective. It takes the inflectional ending -t when it precedes a neuter gender noun (het-word) and is used as an attributive adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
/slɛxt/
Did you know?
- The word slecht originally had nothing to do with morality or quality, but instead meant 'smooth' or 'flat'.
- Dutch speakers use the phrase slecht vallen to describe how a piece of news is received, meaning 'to be taken badly'.
- When a Dutch person says they feel slecht, they might be referring to feeling guilty or remorseful rather than feeling physically ill.
Examples in context
- Het is heel slecht.It's very bad.This sentence shows how to use slecht to say something is very bad.Tatoeba #7611566 by MarijnKp, translation #7538227 by CK
- Het is niet slecht.It's not bad.This sentence demonstrates how to use the negation of slecht.Tatoeba #13306356 by Ag12x, translation #2249109 by CK
- Ik heb slechte adem.I have bad breath.This sentence shows the inflected form slechte used with a noun.Tatoeba #1115320 by megamanenm, translation #240568 by CK
- De service in dit restaurant was slecht.The service in this restaurant was bad.
- De presentatie was niet goed.The presentation was not good.
- Het resultaat van het onderzoek is niet goed.The result of the research is not good.
- Ik vond het eten in dat restaurant echt waardeloos.I thought the food at that restaurant was really bad.
- 314 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sophie and Daan are discussing a movie they just watched.
- SophieWat vond jij van de film?What did you think of the movie?
- DaanIk vond het eigenlijk slecht.I actually thought it was bad.
- SophieEcht? Ik vond het niet zo slecht.Really? I didn't think it was that bad.
- DaanHet verhaal was veel te slecht.The story was way too bad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bad” translations and entries slecht, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries slecht, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
