German Conversation · Level 40
73 words
German word
schlimm
Pronunciation
IPA/ʃlɪm/
Meaning
- adjectiveawful
Example
Die Situation wird schlimmer.
The situation is getting worse.
More examples
Die Verletzung ist schlimm.
The injury is awful.
Core concept
A situation so unpleasant or dangerous that it threatens real trouble.
Common phrases
sehr schlimm
very awful
ziemlich schlimm
quite awful
nicht so schlimm
not so awful
Similar words
schlecht: Not good in quality or condition and therefore undesirable.
ernst: Having serious consequences that demand proper attention.
gefährlich: Likely to threaten safety or cause harm or damage.
furchtbar: So distressing or frightening that it causes intense discomfort.
Definition in German
unangenehm oder gefährlich in solcher Weise, dass ernsthafte Probleme entstehen können
Word origin
Schlimm is an inherited German word from Middle High German slim, rather than a recent borrowing from another language.
Usage tips
- Das ist nicht schlimm usually means 'It is not serious' or 'It is not a problem', rather than simply 'It is not bad'.