German Conversation · Level 66
75 words
German word
wahnsinnig
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈvaːnˌzɪnɪç/
Meaning
- adverbincredibly
Example
Das Konzert war wahnsinnig gut.
The concert was incredibly good.
More examples
In der Stadt ist am Wochenende wahnsinnig viel los.
The city is incredibly busy at the weekend.
Core concept
A mind that has broken loose from ordinary limits, extended to praise something as remarkably intense.
Common phrases
wahnsinnig beliebt
incredibly popular
wahnsinnig viel los
incredibly busy
Similar words
sehr: A common everyday intensifier for a high degree.
unglaublich: Expresses astonishment at an extraordinarily high degree.
extrem: Marks a degree at the far end of a scale.
total: Casually stresses that a state is complete or total.
Definition in German
Drückt eine extrem hohe Intensität aus und steht oft vor Adjektiven oder Adverbien.
Word origin
Wahnsinn combines Wahn ('delusion') and Sinn ('mind' or 'sense'), and wahnsinnig means 'affected by madness' before also becoming an intensifier.
Usage tips
- The intensifier is colloquial and emphatic, so it is stronger than neutral forms such as sehr and does not necessarily imply literal mental illness.