adjectiveadverb

furchtbar

terrible

Etwas, das sehr schlecht, unangenehm oder schrecklich ist.

Definition & meaning

The German adjective furchtbar has two primary meanings depending on the context:

Terrible, awful, or dreadful: This is the most common usage, describing something very unpleasant, bad, or of poor quality (e.g., "das furchtbare Wetter" – the terrible weather).
Formidable or fearsome: This refers to something that inspires fear, awe, or dread, often due to its power or size (e.g., "eine furchtbare Waffe" – a fearsome weapon).

In colloquial German, it is also frequently used as an intensifier, similar to the English words "terribly" or "awfully," to emphasize an adjective (e.g., "furchtbar nett" – terribly nice).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

furchtbar is an adjective that can be used attributively (followed by a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb).
As an adverb, it functions to intensify the following adjective or verb.

Word origin: The word is a compound derived from the noun Furcht (fear) and the suffix -bar (which indicates capability or tendency, similar to the English suffix "-able" or "-ful"). Etymologically, it literally translates to "full of fear" or "fear-inducing."