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adjectiveadjective

nobel

noble

Definition & meaning

Nobel is an adjective with two main meanings:

  1. Elegant, prestigious, or high-end—describing something refined, impressive, or often expensive.
    Example: ein nobeles Restaurant — an elegant, upscale restaurant.

  2. Generous or magnanimous—describing someone who acts with dignity and generosity, especially toward others.
    Example: eine noble Geste — a generous, gracious gesture.

Depending on context, the word can sound approving or slightly ironic, particularly when referring to something that seems showily luxurious.

Grammar & Word origin

Nobel is an adjective. It is usually written lowercase, except at the beginning of a sentence or when used as a noun. Its comparative forms are nobler and am nobelsten. Like other German adjectives, it takes endings when used before a noun, as in ein nobeles Hotel.

The word ultimately comes from Latin nobilis (“well-known, distinguished, noble”), likely reaching German through French noble.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • edel — “noble” or “fine”; often emphasizes quality, character, or a refined appearance.
  • vornehm — “distinguished” or “aristocratic”; often suggests social status or formal elegance.
  • luxuriös — “luxurious”; focuses more directly on comfort, expense, and lavishness.
  • großzügig — “generous”; captures the generous sense of nobel.
  • großmütig — “magnanimous”; emphasizes generosity of spirit.

Antonyms:

  • schäbig — “shabby”; contrasts with the elegant or high-end sense.
  • billig — “cheap”; can be an opposite when nobel means expensive or upscale, though billig can also mean “inexpensive” neutrally.
  • gewöhnlich — “ordinary”; contrasts with a distinguished or refined quality.
  • kleinlich — “petty” or “ungenerous”; contrasts with the generous, magnanimous sense.

Common phrases & collocations

  • ein nobeles Hotel — an upscale hotel
  • ein nobeles Viertel — an affluent or prestigious neighborhood
  • eine noble Geste — a gracious or generous gesture
  • nobel von jemandem — generous or magnanimous of someone
  • nobel wohnen — to live in an upscale way

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Examples

Viele Gäste fanden die noblen Geschenke überraschend.adjective

Many guests found the noble gifts surprising.

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