steil
/ʃtaɪ̯l/
The English word steep translates to the German adjective steil.
steil is the most common translation for steep in German and is used to describe something that is near-vertical. If you are describing a steep learning curve, you can use the phrase eine steile Lernkurve haben. In this specific context, you might also say anspruchsvoll sein to mean the curve is demanding or challenging. When describing something that is steeply priced, you can use teuer (expensive), hochpreisig (high-priced) or überteuert (overpriced).
Meaning: near-vertical (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective steil changes its ending based on the gender, case and number of the noun it modifies. For example, steile is used for a feminine or plural noun in the nominative case. To form the comparative 'steeper', add the suffix -er to the base form to get steiler. The superlative form 'steepest' is constructed using am followed by the adjective with the suffix -sten, resulting in am steilsten.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃtaɪ̯l/
Did you know?
- In modern German slang, steil gehen is a phrase used to describe partying hard or going wild.
- If you are describing a person's character as 'steep' in certain German slang contexts, it can imply they are 'crazy' or 'out of it', though this is highly colloquial.
- The term steil is used in the word Steilpass, a specific type of long and sharp through-ball in football.
Examples in context
- Diese Straße ist steil.This road is steep.This sentence is useful for describing a road with the form steil.Tatoeba #12194448 by Augustus, translation #7888346 by Hybrid
- Das Tal war lang und steil.The valley was long and steep.This sentence is useful for describing a valley with the form steil.Tatoeba #9525065 by Taam, translation #9525066 by Taam
- Wir erklommen einen steilen Abhang.We climbed a steep slope.This sentence is useful for describing a slope with the form steil.Tatoeba #8385326 by Yorwba, translation #2154898 by oneconor
- Die Straße zum Gipfel ist sehr steil.The road to the summit is very steep.
- Die Wand des Berges ist stark geneigt.The mountain wall is steep.
- Hast du den steilen Hang gesehen? Der ist echt krass!Have you seen that steep slope? It's really steep!
- Der Abhang hinter dem Haus ist abgrundtief.The slope behind the house is steep as a precipice.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Hannah are hiking up a mountain.
- MaximilianDer Weg hier ist wirklich sehr steil.The path here is really very steep.
- HannahJa, ich brauche eine kurze Pause.Yes, I need a short break.
- MaximilianKönnen wir eine andere Route nehmen?Can we take a different route?
- HannahNein, das ist leider der einzige Weg.No, unfortunately that is the only way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “steep” translations and entries steil, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
