schlimm
German
editEtymology
editFrom Middle High German slimp (“slanting, awry”), from Proto-Germanic *slimbaz (“oblique, crooked”). Compare English slim (“thin”), Dutch slim (“clever, smart”), Middle Dutch slim (“bad, crooked”).
Pronunciation
editAdjective
editschlimm (strong nominative masculine singular schlimmer, comparative schlimmer, superlative am schlimmsten)
- bad, terrible, serious (seriously bad), dire, horrible, awful
- noch schlimmer ― even worse
- Am schlimmsten... ― Worst of all...
- Das Schlimmste an... ― The worst thing about...
- hurting, ill, infected
- ein schlimmer Fuß ― an aching foot
Usage notes
edit- Schlecht and schlimm are widely synonymous. However, schlecht is used more of things that are objectively bad, while schlimm is more subjective and therefore perhaps also more intensive.
Declension
editPositive forms of schlimm
number & gender | singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | |||
predicative | er ist schlimm | sie ist schlimm | es ist schlimm | sie sind schlimm | |
strong declension (without article) |
nominative | schlimmer | schlimme | schlimmes | schlimme |
genitive | schlimmen | schlimmer | schlimmen | schlimmer | |
dative | schlimmem | schlimmer | schlimmem | schlimmen | |
accusative | schlimmen | schlimme | schlimmes | schlimme | |
weak declension (with definite article) |
nominative | der schlimme | die schlimme | das schlimme | die schlimmen |
genitive | des schlimmen | der schlimmen | des schlimmen | der schlimmen | |
dative | dem schlimmen | der schlimmen | dem schlimmen | den schlimmen | |
accusative | den schlimmen | die schlimme | das schlimme | die schlimmen | |
mixed declension (with indefinite article) |
nominative | ein schlimmer | eine schlimme | ein schlimmes | (keine) schlimmen |
genitive | eines schlimmen | einer schlimmen | eines schlimmen | (keiner) schlimmen | |
dative | einem schlimmen | einer schlimmen | einem schlimmen | (keinen) schlimmen | |
accusative | einen schlimmen | eine schlimme | ein schlimmes | (keine) schlimmen |
Comparative forms of schlimm
Superlative forms of schlimm
Related terms
edit- verschlimmern
- Verschlimmerung
- verschlimmbessern
- Verschlimmbesserung (a supposed improvement that, in fact, makes a situation worse)
Adverb
editschlimm
See also
editFurther reading
editPennsylvania German
editEtymology
editCompare German schlimm, Dutch slim, English slim.
Adjective
editschlimm
Categories:
- German terms inherited from Middle High German
- German terms derived from Middle High German
- German terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- German terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- German 1-syllable words
- German terms with IPA pronunciation
- German terms with audio links
- German lemmas
- German adjectives
- German terms with usage examples
- German adverbs
- Pennsylvania German lemmas
- Pennsylvania German adjectives