German Conversation · Level 84
57 words
German word
zweifelhaft
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈtsvaɪ̯fəlhaft/
Meaning
- adjectivequestionable
Example
Die zweifelhafte Aussage verwirrte uns.
The questionable statement confused us.
More examples
Die zweifelhafte Quelle wurde schnell überprüft.
The questionable source was quickly checked.
Core concept
A person, claim, or plan raises a warning signal because something about it seems untrustworthy.
Common phrases
eine zweifelhafte Quelle
a questionable source
ein zweifelhafter Hinweis
a questionable clue
unter zweifelhaften Umständen
under questionable circumstances
Similar words
fragwürdig: Difficult to regard as reliable, justified, or morally acceptable.
suspekt: Giving the impression that something is suspicious or not aboveboard.
Definition in German
Als zweifelhaft gilt etwas, das nicht zweifelsfrei erscheint oder verdächtig wirkt.
Word origin
German forms zweifelhaft from Zweifel and -haft, making an adjective for something marked by doubt or suspicion.
Usage tips
- German zweifelhaft often sounds more negative than English questionable because it can suggest that someone or something is suspicious.
Other meanings
- suspiciousadjective
Opposites
- glaubwürdigcredibleadjective
- verlässlichreliableadjective