German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Terrible" in German: schrecklich
schrecklich
Terrible in German is schrecklich. Say Das ist schrecklich for bad news or awful weather. Softer disappointment may use schlimm instead.
Bad news
Das ist schrecklich — tut mir leid.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce schrecklich
Say it
SHREK-likh
/ˈʃʁɛklɪç/
SHREK-likh. Stress SHREK; soft ich-sound at the end.
"Terrible" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| schrecklich | terrible Strong negative. | Strong negative. |
| Das ist schrecklich | that's terrible Reaction. | Reaction. |
| schrecklich müde | terribly tired Intensifier. | Intensifier. |
| ein schrecklicher Tag | a terrible day With endings. | With endings. |
How to use schrecklich in real life
- 1Bad news
Das ist schrecklich — tut mir leid.
That's terrible — I'm sorry.
Empathy.
- 2Weather
Das Wetter war schrecklich nass.
The weather was terribly wet.
Intensifier.
- 3Review chat
Der Service war echt schrecklich.
The service was really terrible.
Complaint.
Mistakes English speakers make with schrecklich
Incorrect: Es war terrible.
Correct: Es war schrecklich.
Use schrecklich, not English terrible.
Incorrect: Ein schrecklich Tag.
Correct: Ein schrecklicher Tag.
Before a masculine noun add the ending: schrecklicher.
Good to know
Schrecklich is strong; friends also say übel or schlimm for milder bad. Horror films are often labeled schrecklich spaßig in jokes. Tone matters — it can sound dramatic if overused.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Reacting to a cancelled train
ChatPal
Der Zug fällt aus. Schrecklich, oder?
The train is cancelled. Terrible, right?
You
Ja, schrecklich — wir kommen zu spät.
Yes, terrible — we'll arrive too late.
ChatPal
Nicht schrecklich für immer. Es gibt einen Bus.
Not terrible forever. There's a bus.
You
Okay. Weniger schrecklich mit Plan B.
Okay. Less terrible with plan B.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Terrible" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Terrible" in German
How do you say terrible?
Schrecklich.
That's terrible?
Das ist schrecklich.
Before a noun?
Add endings: ein schrecklicher Tag.
Softer option?
Schlimm for milder bad.
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
