ungesund
/ˈʊnɡəˌzʊnt/
The English phrase "unhealthy" is translated into German as ungesund. Wiktionary also lists gesundheitsschädlich.
Meaning: conducive to poor health (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| ungesund | /ˈʊnɡəˌzʊnt/ |
| gesundheitsschädlich |
Both ungesund and gesundheitsschädlich are used to describe things that are conducive to poor health.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ungesund is composed of the prefix un- (un-) and gesund (healthy).
Which one should you use?
While ungesund is a general term for unhealthy, gesundheitsschädlich is a more formal, technical term often used in legal or medical contexts to mean "harmful to one's health".
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an attributive adjective before a feminine or plural noun, ungesund takes an inflectional ending, such as ungesunde.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʊnɡəˌzʊnt/
Did you know?
- While ungesund means 'unhealthy', the word gesund is used in the phrase Gesundheit! to wish someone well after they sneeze, acting as the equivalent of the English 'Bless you'.
- The word 'gesund' shares an ancient root with the English word 'sound', as in being 'of sound mind and body'.
- In German, 'gesund' can also be used to describe a 'healthy' amount of something, such as 'eine gesunde Menge', meaning a 'reasonable' or 'moderate' amount.
Examples in context
- Dieses Essen ist ungesund.This food is unhealthy.Tatoeba #458643 by Zaghawa, translation #58372 by CK
- Ich wusste, dass es ungesund war.I knew it was unhealthy.Tatoeba #2467951 by Manfredo, translation #2059850 by CK
- Übergewicht und Fettleibigkeit sind ungesund.Being overweight or obese is unhealthy.Tatoeba #11467132 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6794052 by Hybrid
- Eine ungesunde Ernährung kann zu verschiedenen gesundheitlichen Problemen führen.An unhealthy diet can lead to various health problems.
- Ich liebe Fast Food, aber es ist wirklich ungesund.I love fast food, but it's really unhealthy.
- Regelmäßiges Snacken zwischen den Mahlzeiten ist schlecht für die Gesundheit.Regular snacking between meals is bad for health.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are talking about a restaurant choice.
- MaximilianDas Fast Food hier ist sehr ungesund.The fast food here is very unhealthy.
- SarahDu hast recht, Maximilian.You are right, Maximilian.
- MaximilianSollen wir lieber einen Salat essen?Should we eat a salad instead?
- SarahJa, das ist eine gute Idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unhealthy” translations and entries ungesund, gesundheitsschädlich, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
