Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| sauer | /ˈzaʊ̯ər/ /ˈsaʊ̯ɐ/ |
| böse | /ˈbøːzə/ |
German speakers use different words depending on the intensity and type of anger. You might use sauer to express being annoyed or 'sour' about a situation. If you want to emphasize extreme anger, you can use the informal expression stinksauer sein (to be incredibly mad) or richtig sauer sein. For a more poetic or intense description, schäumen vor Wut means foaming with rage. If you are describing someone as evil or wicked, or simply looking angry, böse is the appropriate term.
What does it mean word for word?
While sauer is used to mean angry or annoyed, its literal meaning is 'sour', as when describing the taste of food.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two terms depends on the depth of the feeling. Sauer is typically used for being annoyed or 'sour' about a specific situation, whereas böse implies a deeper sense of being offended or truly angry.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Sauer is a colloquial and informal way to say you are mad or annoyed. For formal situations, you may prefer verärgert sein (to be angry), zornig sein (to be wrathful) or empört sein (to be outraged).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bavaria, the expression grantig sein is used to mean being grumpy.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use böse to say you are mad at someone, you must use the dative case for the person you are angry with, such as in the phrase Ich bin dir böse'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈzaʊ̯ər/
Did you know?
- The word böse is etymologically related to the English word 'boast', as both stem from roots meaning to 'swell' or 'puff up'.
- To describe extreme anger, Germans use the word stinksauer, which literally translates to 'stink-sour'.
Examples in context
- Ich bin dir böse.I'm mad at you.The sentence shows how to use böse to express being mad at someone using the dative case.Tatoeba #1599658 by Zaghawa, translation #1891024 by CK
- Bist du mir böse?Are you mad at me?The sentence shows how to ask if someone is mad at you using the dative case.Tatoeba #3050850 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2670830 by meerkat
- Tom sah böse aus.Tom looked mad.The sentence shows how to use böse to describe someone's appearance.Tatoeba #8243140 by MisterTrouser, translation #6171937 by zvzuibqx
- Du machst mich wahnsinnig!You're driving me insane!
- Ich bin ziemlich erbost über diese Situation, und ich würde gerne darüber sprechenI am quite infuriated by this situation, and I would like to discuss it
- 150 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a misunderaked text message.
- SarahBist du sauer auf mich?Are you mad at me?
- JulianNein, ich bin nicht sauer.No, I am not mad.
- SarahGut, du sahst so sauer aus.Good, you looked so mad.
- JulianIch war nur sehr müde.I was just very tired.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mad” translations and entries sauer, böse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries böse, sauer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
