German word

brutal

Pronunciation

IPA/bruˈtaːl/

Meaning

  • adjectivebrutal

Example

Der Täter wurde für seine brutale Tat verurteilt.

The perpetrator was sentenced for his brutal act.

Illustration for brutal (brutal)

More examples

Bei Protesten kam es zu brutaler Gewalt.

There was brutal violence during the protests.

Core concept

A hard, crushing force that leaves no room for mercy or softness.

Common phrases

  • brutale Tat

    brutal act

  • brutales Verhalten

    brutal behavior

  • brutale Gewalt

    brutal violence

Similar words

grausam: Cruel and cold in a way that causes deep emotional pain.
gewalttätig: Involving physical violence, such as hitting or attacking others.
schrecklich: Extremely bad, unpleasant, or distressing.
rücksichtslos: Showing no concern for other people's needs or feelings.

Definition in German

sehr grausam oder gewalttätig und ohne Rücksicht auf die Opfer.

Word origin

German brutal was borrowed through French brutal from Latin brutus, meaning coarse or beast-like.

Usage tips

  • German brutal can also be a colloquial intensifier in phrases such as brutal teuer, meaning extremely expensive, not mercilessly expensive.

Other meanings

  • mercilessadjective
  • roughadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • Brutalitätbrutalitynoun
  • brutalisierenbrutalizeverb

Word lists with this word