schlimm

German

Etymology

From Middle High German slimp (“slanting, awry”), from Proto-Germanic *slimbaz (“oblique, crooked”). Compare English slim (“thin”), Dutch slim (“clever, smart”), Middle Dutch slim (“bad, crooked”),

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃlɪm/

• audio (Austria):

  (file)

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

schlimm (comparative schlimmer, superlative am schlimmsten)

1. bad

Related terms

• verschlimmern
• Verschlimmerung
• verschlimmbessern
• Verschlimmbesserung (a supposed improvement that, in fact, makes a situation worse)

See also

• schlecht

Further reading

• “schlimm” in Duden online

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Pennsylvania German

Etymology

Compare German schlimm, Dutch slim, English slim.

Adjective

schlimm

1. bad
2. sad
3. serious, grave
4. very ill