German word

bös

Pronunciation

IPA/bøːs/

Meaning

  • adjectivebad

Example

Das ist bös.

That's bad.

Illustration for bös (bad)

More examples

Das war eine böse Absicht.

That was an evil intention.

Core concept

A hostile, hurtful attitude that can range from personal anger to deliberate evil.

Common phrases

  • böse Absicht

    evil intention

  • böses Wort

    nasty word

  • böse Tat

    evil deed

Similar words

wütend: Overcome by powerful anger and heightened emotion.
verärgert: In a displeased or irritated state.
boshaft: Characterized by a deliberate and malicious wish to cause harm.
gemein: Showing a lack of consideration through spiteful or mean behavior.

Definition in German

Beschreibt einen Zustand von Ärger oder Missfallen, bei dem jemand feindselig oder verletzend reagieren kann.

Word origin

Bös is an inherited Germanic adjective, recorded in Old High German as bōsi and in Middle High German as böse.

Usage tips

  • In the pattern "böse auf" plus accusative, the adjective means angry with someone rather than generally evil.

Other meanings

  • eviladjective
  • meanadjective
  • angryadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • Bösheitwickednessnoun
  • bösartigviciousadjective
  • böswilligmaliciousadjective

Word lists with this word