adjectiveadverb

gruselig

creepy

So, dass es Angst macht oder ein unheimliches Gefühl auslöst.

Definition & meaning

The adjective gruselig is used to describe something that causes a feeling of fear, anxiety, or unease. It is often used to characterize things that are eerie, spooky, or chilling.

Depending on the context, it can have two slightly different nuances:

Spooky/Eerie: Referring to an atmosphere, place, or situation that makes one feel uncomfortable or gives one "goosebumps" (e.g., a dark forest or a ghost story).
Horrible/Unpleasant: Referring to something that is so bad or strange that it evokes a visceral feeling of aversion or dread.

Grammar & Word origin

Gruselig is an adjective that can be declined according to German grammar rules when placed before a noun (e.g., ein gruseliger Film).

The word is derived from the German verb gruseln , which means "to shiver" or "to feel a creepiness." It is closely related to the noun Grausen , which refers to a feeling of horror or dread. The suffix "-ig" is used to transform the root into an adjective describing the quality of causing that specific sensation.