German word

gemein

Pronunciation

IPA/gəˈmaɪ̯n/

Meaning

  • adjectivemean

Example

Das war ein gemeiner Witz.

That was a mean joke.

Illustration for gemein (mean)

More examples

Sie reagierte gemein, obwohl er sich entschuldigt hatte.

She reacted meanly, even though he had apologized.

Core concept

A remark or action that deliberately hits another person's weak spot, sometimes disguised as humor.

Common phrases

  • gemein sein

    be mean

  • auf gemeine Weise

    in a mean way

Similar words

verletzend: Causing emotional pain through words or actions.
boshaft: Intending to harm others through spiteful or malicious behavior.
sarkastisch: Mocking someone through cutting, ironic remarks.
herablassend: Showing an attitude of looking down on others.

Definition in German

Absichtlich unfreundlich oder verletzend zu jemandem handeln

Word origin

German gemein comes through Middle High German from Old High German gimeini, meaning "common" or "shared," and later developed senses such as ordinary, vulgar, low, and unkind.

Usage tips

  • For the pattern "gemein zu jemandem sein," "zu" takes the dative, as in "Sie ist gemein zu ihm."

Other meanings

  • despicableadjective
  • underhandedadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • Gemeinheitmeannessnoun

Word lists with this word