adjectiveadverb

arg

fiercely · very

Eine Angabe, die zeigt, was in einer Funktion oder einem Befehl eingesetzt wird.

Definition & meaning

The word arg is an archaic or colloquial German adjective that carries a negative connotation. It is primarily used to describe something that is very bad, severe, malicious, or extreme. Depending on the context, it can mean:

Bad or severe: Describing a situation, a condition, or a quality that is poor or intense (e.g., eine arge Enttäuschung – a severe disappointment).
Malicious or wicked: Describing someone's intentions or character as being devious or bad (e.g., nichts Arges im Sinn haben – to have no malicious intent).
Extreme or significant: Often used in colloquial speech to emphasize the extent of something (e.g., arg viel – an awful lot).

In some regional dialects, it can also imply that something is strange, peculiar, or "too much" to handle.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammatical classification: Adjective. It is declinable (e.g., arges, arger, argen).
Etymology: The word originates from the Middle High German arc, which stems from the Old High German arg. Historically, it is related to the Old English earg (meaning cowardly or wretched). Over centuries, the meaning shifted from a moral judgment ("wicked" or "cowardly") to a broader descriptive term for severity or intensity.