German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Sad" in German: traurig
traurig
Sad in German is traurig. You say Ich bin traurig for your own feeling. Before nouns it takes endings, as in traurige Musik. A gentler check-in is Alles okay? rather than blunt questions.
After bad news
Ich bin heute etwas traurig.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce traurig
Say it
TROW-rish
/ˈtʁaʊ̯ʁɪç/
TROW-rish. The au is like "ow" in "cow". The g at the end often sounds like a soft ich or a light k, depending on the speaker. Stress the first syllable.
"Sad" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| traurig | sad Default adjective for sadness. | Default adjective for sadness. |
| traurig sein | to be sad Common feeling phrase. | Common feeling phrase. |
| betrübt | downcast Softer or more formal than traurig. | Softer or more formal than traurig. |
| zum Weinen traurig | sad enough to cry Stronger emotional colour. | Stronger emotional colour. |
How to use traurig in real life
- 1After bad news
Ich bin heute etwas traurig.
I'm a bit sad today.
Etwas softens the statement.
- 2About a film
Der Film war richtig traurig.
The film was really sad.
After sein, no adjective ending.
- 3Comforting a friend
Du wirkst traurig. Willst du reden?
You seem sad. Do you want to talk?
A gentle, open offer.
Mistakes English speakers make with traurig
Incorrect: Ich habe traurig.
Correct: Ich bin traurig.
German uses sein with traurig, not haben.
Incorrect: eine traurig Geschichte
Correct: eine traurige Geschichte
Before a feminine noun after eine, add -e: traurige.
Good to know
Germans can be fairly direct about feelings, but with acquaintances they often start with soft checks like Alles gut? or Du wirkst nachdenklich. Traurig is clear and not melodramatic on its own.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A friend notices your mood after a tough day
ChatPal
Du siehst ein bisschen traurig aus.
You look a bit sad.
You
Ja, ich bin traurig wegen der Nachricht.
Yes, I'm sad because of the news.
ChatPal
Das verstehe ich. Sei nicht allein traurig.
I understand. Don't be sad alone.
You
Danke. Reden hilft, wenn ich traurig bin.
Thanks. Talking helps when I'm sad.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Sad" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Sad" in German
Do I say sein or haben with traurig?
Use sein: Ich bin traurig. Haben is wrong here.
How do you say sad news?
Traurige Nachrichten. The adjective takes an ending before the noun.
What is a softer word than traurig?
Betrübt or simply nicht so gut drauf (not in a great mood).
How do you ask if someone is sad?
Bist du traurig? Or softer: Alles okay? / Willst du darüber sprechen?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
