German Conversation · Level 151
30 words
German word
zäh
Pronunciation
IPA/t͡sɛː/
Meaning
- adjectivetough
Example
Der Gegner ist zäher als erwartet.
The opponent is tougher than expected.
More examples
Das Fleisch ist zäh und benötigt lange Zeit zum Schmoren.
The meat is tough and takes a long time to braise.
Core concept
Something that remains difficult to defeat or finish because it does not yield easily to pressure.
Common phrases
zähes Material
tough material
zäher Konkurrenz
tougher competition
zähe Kritik
harsh criticism
Similar words
hartnäckig: Continuing stubbornly and refusing to abandon a course of action.
robust: Durable under stress, impact, or heavy use.
ausdauernd: Enduring and able to sustain steady effort over time.
Definition in German
Bezeichnet Personen, Dinge oder Situationen, die hartnäckig sind und nicht leicht nachgeben.
Word origin
German zäh is an inherited Germanic word recorded in Old High German as zāh, with its concrete sense of toughness extended to figurative persistence.
Usage tips
- Zäh often describes prolonged resistance in expressions such as ein zäher Gegner or zähe Verhandlungen, where English often uses tenacious or protracted.
Other meanings
- tenaciousadjective
- chewyadjective
Opposites
- nachgiebigyieldingadjective
- weichsoftadjective
Related words
- Zähigkeittoughnessnoun
- zähflüssigviscousadjective