adjectiveadjective
penibel
meticulous
The German word "penibel" is an adjective meaning "meticulous", "painstaking", or "very precise". It originates from Latin penibiles (faithful, scrupulous). It describes someone who pays extreme attention to detail or is overly careful.
Similar words include:
- gründlich (thorough)
- sorgfältig (careful)
- akribisch (meticulous)
Difference:
- Penibel often carries a slightly critical nuance, suggesting excessive or overly scrupulous care.
- Gründlich and sorgfältig are more neutral positive terms implying carefulness without the potentially negative connotation of being overly fussy.
- Akribisch is very close in meaning but is more formal and scientific.
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Examples
Er prüft die Dokumente penibel genau.adjective
He checks the documents meticulously.
Der Chef kontrolliert alles penibel.adjective
The boss checks everything meticulously.
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