German word

Koller

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkɔlɐ/

Meaning

  • masculine nountantrum

Example

Gestern bekam das Kind einen Koller.

Yesterday, the child had a tantrum.

Illustration for Koller (tantrum)

More examples

Wegen der Hitze bekam er plötzlich einen Koller.

Because of the heat, he suddenly had a tantrum.

Core concept

A person's self-control snaps in a short, visible burst before calm returns.

Common phrases

  • einen Koller bekommen

    have a tantrum

  • in einen Koller geraten

    get into a tantrum

Similar words

Wutanfall: A sudden, intense outburst of anger that quickly passes.
Wut: A powerful feeling of anger held within.
Zorn: Strong anger often rooted in a sense of injustice or moral wrong.

Definition in German

Kurz andauernder, starker Zornausbruch als Nomen, häufig in Wendungen wie 'einen Koller kriegen'.

Word origin

The German noun Koller developed from Middle High German kolre through French colère, which traces back to Latin cholera and Greek cholē, meaning bile.

Usage tips

  • Koller has a colloquial tone, while Wut and Zorn are more general choices for anger in neutral or formal contexts.

Other meanings

  • fit of ragenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word