VocabuoDictionaryGet the app
adjective

wacklig

wobbly

Definition & meaning

The German adjective wacklig describes something that is unstable, shaky, or not firmly fixed in place. It implies a lack of solid foundation or structural integrity.

  • Physical instability: Used for objects that wobble or might tip over, such as a "wackliger Tisch" (a wobbly table) or a "wackliger Zahn" (a loose tooth).
  • Figurative meaning: Used to describe abstract concepts that are insecure, unreliable, or on shaky ground, such as a "wacklige Argumentation" (weak argumentation) or "wacklige Pläne" (uncertain plans).

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: It is an adjective that can be inflected (e.g., wackliger, wacklige, wackliges). It is commonly used as a predicate (e.g., "Der Stuhl ist wacklig") or as an attributive adjective (e.g., "ein wackliger Stuhl").
  • Origin: The word is derived from the German verb wackeln (to wobble/to shake). The suffix -ig is a common German adjectival suffix used to derive adjectives from verbs or nouns, indicating a quality or state.

Synonyms & antonyms

  • Synonyms:

    • instabil (unstable)
    • locker (loose)
    • unsicher (insecure/uncertain)
    • schwankend (swaying)

  • Antonyms:

    • stabil (stable)
    • fest (firm/solid)
    • standfest (steady/footing)
    • sicher (secure)

Make “wacklig” part of your vocabulary.

Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Get Vocabuo on the App StoreGet Vocabuo for Android

Examples

Heute wirkt alles wacklig beim Aufbau der Möbel.adjective

Today everything seems wobbly during the assembly of the furniture.

Keep exploring German

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play