schlecht
/ʃlɛçt/
The English word 'bad' can be translated into German in several ways depending on the context. The default form is schlecht. Wiktionary also lists schlimm and übel.
Meaning: unfavorable, negative (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| schlecht | /ʃlɛçt/ |
| schlimm | /ʃlɪm/ |
| übel | /ˈyːbəl/ |
German uses different words to express various types of badness. Use schlecht to describe low quality, poor performance or a bad taste, such as in the phrase schlechtes Wetter for bad weather. Use schlimm when describing the severity of a situation, an accident or a bad event. Use übel for things that cause nausea or feel physically or morally offensive. Additionally, pfui is a term used specifically for a misbehaving child or pet.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on what is being described: schlecht refers to quality or performance. schlimm refers to the seriousness or severity of an event. And übel refers to something nauseating or unpleasant.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃlɛçt/
Did you know?
- The word schlimm is a cognate of the English word 'slim', though their meanings have drifted significantly apart.
- If you are feeling unwell or nauseous, you might say you feel übel, which shares a common ancestor with the English word 'evil'.
- In certain Dutch dialects, the word 'slim' actually means 'clever' or 'smart', which is the exact opposite of the German schlimm.
Examples in context
- War es so schlimm?Was it that bad?This sentence is useful for asking about the severity of a situation using schlimm.Tatoeba #12235801 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #12235716 by sundown
- Das ist nicht übel.It's not bad.This sentence shows how to use übel in a negative statement.Tatoeba #2430944 by al_ex_an_der, translation #2249109 by CK
- Wie schlimm ist es?How bad is it?This sentence is useful for asking about the degree of a bad situation using schlimm.Tatoeba #8250757 by driini, translation #1885954 by CK
- Das Essen war schlechtThe food was bad
- Die Leistung war schlechtThe performance was bad
- Die Arbeitsbedingungen waren miserabelThe working conditions were terrible
- Der Laptop ist untauglich für die ArbeitThe laptop is unsuitable for work
- Die Prüfungsergebnisse waren ungenügendThe exam results were inadequate
- Das war ein dämliger FehlerThat was a silly mistake
- Das Wetter ist heute echt miesThe weather today is really bad
- Er hat sich blöd benommenHe behaved stupidly
- 1394 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are talking about a movie they just watched.
- LukasWie fandest du den Film?How did you like the movie?
- JuliaIch fand die Geschichte wirklich schlecht.I thought the story was really bad.
- LukasEcht? Ich fand ihn eigentlich ganz gut.Really? I actually thought it was quite good.
- JuliaDas ist ein sehr schlechtes Urteil.That is a very bad judgment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bad” translations and entries schlecht, schlimm, übel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries schlecht, schlimm, übel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
