gehässig
/ɡəˈhɛsɪç/
The German word for hateful is gehässig.
The word gehässig is most often used to describe a person's character or a specific remark that is intended to be mean-spirited, spiteful or malicious rather than just expressing deep-seated hatred.
Meaning: full of hate (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
To compare levels of spitefulness, you can use the comparative form gehässiger (more hateful) or the superlative form am gehässigsten (most hateful).
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡəˈhɛsɪç/
Did you know?
- In German, a 'hateful' remark is often described as giftig, which literally means 'poisonous'.
- In some contexts, a 'hateful' or spiteful person might be called bissig, which translates literally to 'biting'.
- While gehässig describes a spiteful personality, the word hasserfüllt is used for the deep, burning hatred often associated with political or ideological enmity.
Examples in context
- Maria sagte, du seiest sehr gemein und gehässig zu ihr gewesen.Mary said that you were very mean and hateful to her.This sentence shows how to describe someone being mean and gehässig toward another person.Tatoeba #4493347 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #4493195 by Hybrid
- Er schrieb einen gehässigen Kommentar unter das Video.He wrote a hateful comment under the video.
- Ich möchte nicht so gehässig sein.I do not want to be so hateful.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Maximilian are talking about a recent argument.
- HannahMaximilian, deine Worte waren wirklich gehässig.Maximilian, your words were really hateful.
- MaximilianDas tut mir leid, Hannah.I am sorry, Hannah.
- HannahIch möchte nicht mehr so streiten.I don't want to argue like that anymore.
- MaximilianIch werde in Zukunft vorsichtiger sein.I will be more careful in the future.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gehässig, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
