unwahrscheinlich
unlikely
Etwas ist so, dass es nur mit sehr kleiner Chance passiert oder stimmt.
Definition & meaning
The German word unwahrscheinlich translates to "unlikely," "improbable," or "implausible."
- Probability: Used to describe an event that is not expected to happen or has a low statistical chance of occurring (e.g., "Es ist unwahrscheinlich, dass es heute regnet" – It is unlikely that it will rain today).
- Emphasis (colloquial): In informal German, it is often used as an adverb or adjective to mean "incredibly" or "extraordinarily" (e.g., "Sie ist unwahrscheinlich nett" – She is incredibly nice).
Grammar & Word origin
The word is an adjective. It is composed of three parts:
- un-: A prefix indicating negation or reversal.
- wahr: Meaning "true."
- -scheinlich: A suffix derived from "scheinen" (to seem or appear), meaning "likely" or "probable."
Together, the word literally means "not appearing to be true" or "not appearing to be the case."
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
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Examples
Ein Treffer ist unwahrscheinlich.adjective
A hit is unlikely.
Es scheint unwahrscheinlich, dass er heute ankommt.adjective
It seems unlikely that he will arrive today.
Der Erfolg scheint unwahrscheinlich.adjective
The success seems unlikely.
Ein Sieg ist unter diesen Umständen unwahrscheinlich.adjective
A victory is unlikely under these circumstances.
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