verrückt
/fɛɐˈʁʏkt/
The English word "crazy" is translated into German as verrückt.
verrückt can be used both literally to mean someone is mentally ill and figuratively to describe something that is wild, unusual or unbelievable.
Meaning: insane, demented (adj)
Which one should you use?
While verrückt is the standard term, you may encounter other forms depending on the intended tone: bekloppt is an informal way to say "crazy" and bescheuert is a more colloquial and slightly more insulting way to describe someone acting "crazy" or "stupid".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For informal contexts, you can use bekloppt. If you want to be more colloquial and slightly insulting, implying someone is being idiotic or stupid, use bescheuert.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an attributive adjective directly before a noun, verrückt must take various endings. For example, you would use verrückte for feminine or plural nouns in certain cases.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛɐˈʁʏkt/
Did you know?
- While verrückt is common, Germans often use the phrase nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben, which means 'not having all the cups in the cupboard'.
- The word verrückt literally means 'dislocated' or 'shifted'. It comes from the verb rücken, which means 'to move' or 'to push', implying that a person's mind has shifted out of its proper place.
- To say someone has 'gone crazy' in a sudden or extreme way, Germans use the verb ausrasten, which literally means 'to snap out of a gear' or 'to unlatch'.
Examples in context
- Das ist so verrückt.This is so crazy.This sentence shows how to use verrückt to describe a situation as being crazy.Tatoeba #10246408 by wolfgangth, translation #2892243 by CK
- Na, bist du verrückt?Hey, are you crazy?This is a common way to ask someone if they are being crazy.Tatoeba #4267182 by Esperantostern, translation #4284666 by seltsameseeds
- Du bist wohl verrückt.You must be crazy.This shows a way to express the idea that someone must be crazy.Tatoeba #1600541 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1556107 by Spamster
- Er hat eine verrückte Idee.He has a crazy idea.
- Das ist eine irrsinnige Entscheidung.That is an insane decision.
- Er ist total bekloppt!He is totally crazy!
- Bist du hohl?Are you crazy?
- 358 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian tells Julia about a strange man in the park.
- JuliaJulian, hast du den Mann im Park gesehen?Julian, did you see the man in the park?
- JulianJa, er war total verrückt.Yes, he was totally crazy.
- JuliaHat er wirklich laut geschrien?Did he really scream loudly?
- JulianJa, er ist einfach verrückt.Yes, he is just crazy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crazy” translations and entries verrückt, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
