abfällig
derogatory
Expressing contempt or disdain; clearly showing that one considers someone or something inferior.
EXAMPLE
Er äußerte sich abfällig über die Arbeit seiner Kollegin.
He made derogatory remarks about his colleague's work.
abfällig
derogatory / disdainful
abfällig – abfälliger – am abfälligsten
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry abfällig, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | abfällig |
|---|---|
| comparative | abfälliger |
| superlative | am abfälligsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to abfällig.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to abfällig.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to abfällig.
Usage tips
Fixed preposition
'Abfällig' (derogatory) is very often used with 'über' (about) and the accusative. It then describes how someone speaks or passes judgment about a person, group, or thing.
EXAMPLE
Die Journalistin schrieb abfällig über den neuen Bürgermeister.
The journalist wrote derogatory remarks about the new mayor.
Typical collocations
Common collocations include 'eine abfällige Bemerkung' (a derogatory remark), 'eine abfällige Äußerung' (a derogatory statement), and 'abfällig über jemanden reden' (to speak derogatorily about someone). The adjective often appears directly before words referring to verbal expressions.
EXAMPLE
Seine abfällige Bemerkung verletzte die neue Mitarbeiterin.
His derogatory remark hurt the new employee.
Formal written style
'Abfällig' (derogatory) occurs especially often in factual descriptions of conversations, comments, and judgments. The word describes the attitude revealed by a statement.
EXAMPLE
Im Bericht wird beschrieben, wie abfällig der Politiker über seine Gegner sprach.
The report describes how derogatorily the politician spoke about his opponents.
In real life
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