langweilig
/ˈlaŋvaɪ̯lɪç/
The German word for boring is langweilig.
langweilig is an adjective used to describe something that causes boredom or tiredness. To intensify the feeling, you can use Todlangweilig to mean dead boring.
Meaning: causing boredom or tiredness (adj)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the cause and the feeling: use langweilig to describe something that is boring, but use gelangweilt to describe a person who feels bored.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Austrian German, the word fad is an alternative to langweilig.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, langweilig changes its ending depending on the noun it describes. It takes the ending -e when used before a feminine noun, such as in eine langweilige Geschichte and it takes the ending -en when used in the accusative case with a masculine noun, such as in einen langweiligen Film.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlaŋvaɪ̯lɪç/
Did you know?
- In German, you can say Ich langweile mich, which literally means 'I bore myself'. English speakers instead use the passive 'I am bored'.
- If something is 'boring' in the sense of being monotonous, a German might use öde, which also means 'desolate' or 'empty' like a wasteland.
- While langweilig is common, the Austrian alternative fad originally referred to something being tasteless or bland, like food without salt.
Examples in context
- Tom ist so langweilig.Tom is so boring.This sentence shows how to describe a person using langweilig.Tatoeba #10246495 by wolfgangth, translation #4495228 by CK
- Hier ist es langweilig.This place is boring.This sentence describes a place using langweilig.Tatoeba #3303067 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #619602 by ulyssemc1
- Ihr seid so langweilig.You guys are so boring.This sentence shows how to describe a group of people using langweilig.Tatoeba #8616358 by Luiaard, translation #2713514 by CK
- Die Vorlesung war langweiligThe lecture was boring
- Die Tagung war ziemlich ödeThe conference was quite boring
- Der Film gestern war langweilig wie SauYesterday's movie was boring as hell
- Der Vortrag war fadThe presentation was boring
- Mir ist langweilig.I am bored.
- 228 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are sitting in a cinema.
- LauraDer Film ist wirklich langweilig.The movie is really boring.
- JulianJa, ich schlafe fast ein.Yes, I am almost falling asleep.
- LauraSollen wir nach Hause gehen?Should we go home?
- JulianJa, das ist eine gute Idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boring” translations and entries langweilig, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
