Mir ist langweilig
The English phrase "I am bored" is translated into German as Mir ist langweilig.
This phrase is used to express that a person feels a lack of interest or has nothing to do.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "To me is boring," using the dative case to indicate how this state of being is experienced by the person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the dative pronoun Mir (to me) rather than the nominative ich (I) to express the feeling.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say Ich bin langweilig to mean they are bored. This is an error. Ich bin langweilig actually means "I am a boring person," whereas Mir ist langweilig means you feel bored.
Did you know?
- The adjective langweilig is a combination of the words lang meaning 'long' and Weile meaning 'while' or 'period of time'.
- German uses the dative case for many feelings of physical or mental state, such as Mir ist kalt for 'I am cold'. The feeling is treated as something happening to the person rather than a quality of the person.
Examples in context
- Mir ist langweilig.I am bored.Tatoeba #534038 by joha2, translation #1871567 by Asma
- Entschuldigen Sie, aber ich langweile mich hier ein bisschen.Excuse me, but I'm getting bored here.
- Mir ist langweilig. Gibt es hier etwas Interessantes zu tun?I am bored. Is there anything interesting to do here?
- Mir ist langweilig, wenn es regnet.I am bored when it rains.
Example conversation
Felix and Laura are sitting at home on a rainy day.
- FelixMir ist langweilig, Laura.I am bored, Laura.
- LauraMir auch, was sollen wir tun?Me too, what should we do?
- FelixWollen wir einen Film sehen?Do we want to watch a movie?
- LauraJa, das ist eine gute Idee!Yes, that is a good idea!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries langweilig, mir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
