German word

wüst

Pronunciation

IPA/vyːst/

Meaning

  • adjectivedesolate

Example

Die wüste Landschaft beeindruckte mich.

The desolate landscape impressed me.

Illustration for wüst (desolate)

More examples

Nach dem Sturm war das Dorf wüst und verlassen.

The village was desolate and deserted after the storm.

Core concept

A bare landscape that feels abandoned, harsh, and without activity.

Common phrases

  • wüst sein

    be desolate

  • wüst und verlassen

    desolate and deserted

  • wüst und leer

    desolate and empty

Similar words

öde: Lonely and empty, with few plants or buildings and almost no visitors.
verwüstet: Severely damaged and ruined by disaster, war, or other destruction.
verlassen: Empty because its people, shops, or users have completely gone.
karg: Poor in vegetation or resources and plain or meager in appearance.

Definition in German

öde und unbewohnt; eine Landschaft oder ein Ort, der kaum Leben oder Nutzung zeigt

Word origin

The adjective developed from Old High German wuosti, meaning barren or uncultivated, and shares a Germanic origin with English waste.

Usage tips

  • Wüst can also describe chaotic or vulgar conditions, as in wüste Zustände or wüste Beschimpfungen, not only empty landscapes.

Other meanings

  • bleakadjective

Opposites

  • fruchtbarfertileadjective
  • belebtanimatedadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word