German Conversation · Level 29
89 words
German word
überflüssig
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈyːbɐˌflʏsɪç/
Meaning
- adjectiveunnecessary
Example
Das ist eine überflüssige Frage.
This is an unnecessary question.
More examples
Seine überflüssige Bemerkung brachte nichts.
His unnecessary remark was pointless.
Core concept
A completed task has one extra part left over after everything required is already in place.
Common phrases
überflüssige Informationen
unnecessary information
überflüssige Bemerkung
unnecessary remark
überflüssiges Detail
unnecessary detail
Similar words
unnötig: Not needed and avoidable in the situation.
entbehrlich: Dispensable because it can be left out without causing problems.
nutzlos: Useless because it provides no practical benefit.
sinnlos: Pointless because it has no meaningful purpose or result.
Definition in German
Nicht notwendig; etwas, das über das Erforderliche hinausgeht und deshalb entbehrlich ist.
Word origin
Überflüssig comes from German über ('over, beyond') and flüssig ('flowing, liquid'), originally suggesting something that flows beyond a boundary.
Usage tips
- Überflüssig often sounds more categorical than unnecessary, so nicht nötig is a milder alternative in many situations.