riesig
/ˈʁiːzɪç/
The English word 'huge' is translated into German as riesig.
The word riesig is used to describe something that is very large in size or scale.
Meaning: very large (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective riesig is derived from the noun Riese, which means 'giant'.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, riesig takes various endings depending on the gender, number and case of the noun it modifies. For instance, in the phrase riesige Füße, the adjective takes the -e ending.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʁiːzɪç/
Did you know?
- To describe a 'huge' amount of luck, Germans use the phrase riesengroßes Glück, which literally means 'giant-big luck' by combining two words for size.
- The word riesig is often used in the phrase riesigen Hunger haben, meaning to be 'famished', which treats hunger as a physical object of giant proportions.
- While riesig means 'huge', German speakers often use the word gewaltig to describe something so large it feels powerful or overwhelming.
Examples in context
- Die Beule ist riesig.The dent is huge.This sentence is useful for describing the size of a dent using riesig.Tatoeba #7454050 by Luiaard, translation #3436673 by CK
- Tom hat riesige Füße.Tom has huge feet.This sentence shows how riesig changes its ending when modifying a plural noun.Tatoeba #12500845 by Waldelfe, translation #12499898 by CK
- Dieses Tier ist riesig!That animal is huge!This sentence uses riesig to emphasize the scale of an animal.Tatoeba #13230542 by Vortarulo, translation #1488842 by arnxy20
- Das ist ein riesiges GebäudeThat is a huge building
- Er hat eine große BibliothekHe has a huge library
- Es ist eine enorm große MengeIt is an enormously huge amount
- riesengroßEnormously big or huge
- Ich habe einen riesengroßen Kuchen gebackenI baked a huge cake
- Das war ein gigantischer ErfolgThat was a huge success
- Das neue Einkaufszentrum ist riesig!The new shopping center is huge!
- Mein neues Sofa ist so groß, dass es kaum durch die Tür passtMy new sofa is so huge that it barely fits through the door
- Die Himalaya-Berge sind eine enorm große BergketteThe Himalayan mountains are an enormously huge mountain range
- Das Baby in der Nachbarkabine hat mega-große AugenThe baby in the next cabin has huge eyes
- Sie hat einen riesengroßen HungerShe has a huge appetite
- 110 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Hannah are looking at a new apartment.
- LukasDas Wohnzimmer ist riesig!The living room is huge!
- HannahJa, Lukas, es ist toll.Yes, Lukas, it is great.
- LukasUnd die Terrasse ist auch groß.And the terrace is also large.
- HannahWir werden hier viel Platz haben.We will have a lot of space here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “huge” translations and entries riesig, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
