adjectiveadverb

falsch

wrong

Etwas stimmt nicht oder entspricht nicht der Wahrheit.

Definition & meaning

The German word falsch is an adjective that generally translates to "wrong," "incorrect," "false," or "fake." It can be used in several contexts:

Inaccurate or erroneous: Used when something does not correspond to the truth or reality (e.g., a wrong answer).
Artificial or imitation: Used to describe something that is not genuine, such as a fake tooth, a wig, or imitation jewelry.
Dishonest or insincere: Used to describe a person or their character as hypocritical or deceitful (e.g., a "false" friend).
Incorrect direction: Used to indicate the wrong path or way.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

Adjective: As an adjective, it is declined according to the noun it modifies (e.g., ein falsches Wort, eine falsche Entscheidung).
Adverb: It is also commonly used as an adverb to describe how something was done (e.g., Er hat falsch geantwortet - He answered incorrectly).

Word origin: The word originates from the Middle High German valsch, which in turn comes from the Latin falsus (deceptive, erroneous). It entered the German language through religious and legal contexts in the Middle Ages.