German word

billig

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈbɪlɪç/

Meaning

  • adjectivecheap

Example

Das Brot ist billiger als gestern.

The bread is cheaper than it was yesterday.

Illustration for billig (cheap)

More examples

Ich habe ein billiges T-Shirt gekauft.

I bought a cheap T-shirt.

Core concept

A low-priced item sits beside a price tag, with its rough finish hinting at a bargain that may not last.

Common phrases

  • ein billiges Angebot

    cheap deal

  • ein billiges Restaurant

    cheap restaurant

  • eine billige Unterkunft

    cheap accommodation

Similar words

günstig: Priced favorably and representing a financially attractive choice.
preiswert: Worth the price because the quality and cost are well balanced.
preisgünstig: Inexpensive enough to keep the financial burden low.

Definition in German

Preislich niedrig; oft abwertend gebraucht, wenn Ware minderwertig wirkt.

Word origin

Billig comes from Middle High German billich and Old High German bilih, meaning "proper" or "fitting"; its sense later shifted toward a low price and often gained a negative quality association.

Usage tips

  • Billig can sound dismissive about quality, so günstiger or preiswert is often more neutral when describing a product's low price.

Other meanings

  • rock-bottomadjective
  • cheap-lookingadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word