mürrisch
[ˈmʏʁɪʃ]
The German word for dour is mürrisch.
The word mürrisch is used to describe someone or something that is stern, harsh and forbidding.
Meaning: stern, harsh and forbidding (adj)
Did you know?
- While mürrisch describes a person's mood, the related word mürbe describes something that has become soft or crumbly, such as a potato or a cookie.
- A person described as mürrisch is often associated with the 'Berliner Schnauze', a famous local dialect of Berlin known for being blunt, grumpy and abrasive yet secretly friendly.
- The word murren shares an ancient linguistic lineage with the English word 'murmur', though they have drifted apart in modern usage.
Examples in context
- Er zeigte ein missmutiges GesichtHe had a dour expression
- Mein Lehrer ist immer strengMy teacher is always dour
- Warum bist du so mürrisch?Why are you so dour?
- Er ist immer so grantigHe is always dour
- Der Nachbar ist ein griesgrämiger MannThe neighbor is a dour man
- Er ist heute sehr mürrisch.He is very grumpy today.
- Ein mürrischer Blick folgte mir.A sullen look followed me.
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are at home in the morning.
- LukasWarum bist du heute so mürrisch, Lukas?Why are you so moody today, Lukas?
- LauraIch habe einfach schlecht geschlafen.I just slept badly.
- LukasKomm schon, sei nicht so mürrisch.Come on, don't be so sour.
- LauraIch versuche es, Laura.I will try, Laura.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dour” translations and entries mürrisch, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
