adjectiveadverb
holprig
bumpy · halting
Definition & meaning
The adjective holprig describes something that is uneven, rough, or not smooth. It is used in several contexts:
- Physical surface: Refers to a path, road, or ground that has bumps, holes, or obstacles, making it difficult to walk or drive on (e.g., a bumpy road).
- Abstract/Figurative: Refers to a process, a conversation, or a sequence of events that does not run smoothly. It implies a lack of flow, frequent interruptions, or clumsy execution (e.g., a bumpy start to a project or awkward, unpolished speech).
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- It is an adjective that can be used attributively (e.g., ein holpriger Weg) or predicatively (e.g., Der Weg ist holprig).
- It is inflected based on gender, case, and number.
Word origin:
- It is derived from the Middle High German word holper or halper, which refers to a bump, a lump, or an unevenness in the ground. The suffix -ig is a common German adjectival suffix used to indicate "having the quality of" or "full of."
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- uneben (uneven)
- ungleichmäßig (irregular)
- holperig (variant spelling)
- ruckelig (jerky)
- holperhaft (bumpy/awkward)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Die Straße ist sehr holprig.adjective
The road is very bumpy.
Der Redner sprach anfangs noch etwas holprig.adjective
The speaker spoke somewhat haltingly at first.
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