billig

See also: Billig

Danish

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -i

Etymology 1

Adjective

billig

1. cheap

Inflection

Inflection of billig
	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Indefinte common singular	billig	billigere	billigst2
Indefinite neuter singular	billigt	billigere	billigst2
Plural	billige	billigere	billigst2
Definite attributive1	billige	billigere	billigste
1) When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite, the corresponding "indefinite" form is used. 2) The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

billig

1. (deprecated template usage) imperative of billige

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German

Etymology

From Old High German billīh (“appropriate”), from Proto-Germanic *biliz (“merciful, kind, decent, fair”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbɪlɪç]
• IPA^(key): [ˈbɪlɪkʰ]

• Audio Northern Germany:

  (file)

  ,

  Upper Germany:

  (file)

  ,

  Austria:

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• Hyphenation: bil‧lig

Adjective

billig (comparative billiger, superlative am billigsten)

1. (formal) appropriate, meet, fair

   Die Strafe ist billig und recht.

   The punishment is appropriate and just.

2. (informal) cheap (low-priced)

   In Deutschland sind Lebensmittel billiger als in andern europäischen Ländern.

   In Germany, groceries are cheaper than in other European countries.

   Synonyms: wohlfeil, günstig, preisgünstig, kostengünstig, niedrigpreisig, preiswert

   Antonyms: teuer, hochpreisig

3. (low colloquial) cheap (of low quality, mediocre)

   Das Vorgehen der Regierung ist ein billiges Ablenkungsmanöver.

   The government's course of action is a cheap diversionary tactic.

   Antonyms: edel, hochwertig

Usage notes

The meaning “low-priced” only arises in the end of the 18^th century and has been very colloquial and frowned upon until the end of the 19^th century, the negative meaning having to arise even later after this word has attained domination in expressing the sense of cheapness in German. This word in the sense “cheap” is still known to be slightly colloquial, so, in formal speech, and because of its multiple senses, like günstig it is avoided in favour of circumscriptions or ungainly adjectives like preisgünstig and niedrigpreisig. Actually, in legal writing the original meaning is the expected one. The classical word for “cheap” is wohlfeil, the use of which now is restricted to chosen style.

Derived terms

• spottbillig

Further reading

• “billig” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “billig” in Duden online

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Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Middle Low German billich

Adjective

billig (neuter singular billig, definite singular and plural billige, comparative billigere, indefinite plural billigst, definite plural billigste)

1. cheap, inexpensive

Antonyms

• dyr

References

• “billig” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

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Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Middle Low German billich

Adjective

billig (neuter singular billig, definite singular and plural billige, comparative billigare, indefinite plural billigast, definite plural billigaste)

1. alternative form of billeg

References

• “billig” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

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Swedish

Etymology

From Middle Low German billik, billich.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

billig (comparative billigare, superlative billigast)

1. cheap; of low price, of little worth
2. cheap, easy; requiring little effort
3. (dated) reasonable, fair

   en billig begäran

   a reasonable request

   det är rätt och billigt

   that is fair and square

Declension

Inflection of billig
Indefinite	Positive	Comparative	Superlative2
Common singular	billig	billigare	billigast
Neuter singular	billigt	billigare	billigast
Plural	billiga	billigare	billigast
Masculine plural3	billige	billigare	billigast
Definite	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Masculine singular1	billige	billigare	billigaste
All	billiga	billigare	billigaste
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine. 2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative. 3) Dated or archaic

Antonyms

• dyr

Related terms

• billighet