gedemütigt
The English word humiliated is translated into German as gedemütigt.
The adjective gedemütigt is used to describe a person who has been deprived of their dignity or self-respect.
Meaning: deprived of dignity or self-respect (adj)
Which one should you use?
While gedemütigt describes the state of having one's dignity stripped away, the German word beschämt is used for feeling ashamed, which is a more internal feeling of guilt or embarrassment rather than a social degradation.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective derived from a past participle, gedemütigt is used with the auxiliary verbs sein (to be) or werden (to become/be) to describe a state or a process of being humiliated.
Did you know?
- If someone is being humiliated in a social or professional way by being made a spectacle, Germans might use the phrase jemanden bloßstellen. This literally means 'to expose someone naked', though no actual clothes are removed.
- While gedemütigt is the standard term, Germans may use the phrase jemanden vorführen to describe public humiliation, which literally means 'to present someone' as if they were a museum exhibit.
- The concept of avoiding being gedemütigt is codified in the first sentence of the German Basic Law. It protects die Menschenwürde or 'human dignity', making the prevention of humiliation a constitutional mandate.
Examples in context
- Man hat Sie gedemütigt.You were humiliated.This sentence shows how to use gedemütigt in the passive voice.Tatoeba #12648653 by Waldelfe, translation #11415858 by Agestur
- Ich wurde sehr gedemütigt.I was very humiliated.This sentence shows how to use gedemütigt to describe a personal experience.Tatoeba #10086667 by wolfgangth, translation #6356715 by CK
- Tom fühlte sich gedemütigt.Tom felt humiliated.This sentence shows how to use gedemütigt to describe a person's feelings.Tatoeba #1545884 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1025792 by CK
- Nach der öffentlichen Kritik fühlte er sich gedemütigt.After the public criticism, he felt humiliated.
- Die unerwartete Frage des Professors hat ihn bloßgestellt.The professor's unexpected question humiliated him.
- Die öffentliche Ablehnung hat sie erniedrigt und verunsichert.The public rejection humiliated and unsettled her.
- Diese böse Antwort hat mich total bloßgestellt.That snappy response really humiliated me.
- Durch meinen Stotteranfall habe ich mich vor allen Leuten blamiert.I humiliated myself in front of everyone with my stuttering episode.
- Er wurde bei der Arbeit öffentlich von seinem Chef zur Sau gemacht.He was publicly humiliated by his boss at work.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Lukas are discussing a difficult work meeting.
- LauraLukas, hast du dich heute bei der Sitzung gedemütigt gefühlt?Lukas, did you feel humiliated during the meeting today?
- LukasJa, ich fühlte mich wirklich gedemütigt.Yes, I really felt humiliated.
- LauraDas tut mir leid, er war sehr unfair zu dir.I am sorry, he was very unfair to you.
- LukasDanke, Laura, das ist sehr nett von dir.Thanks, Laura, that is very kind of you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
