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alkoholisch
alcoholic
The quality of containing alcohol.
example
Wein und Bier sind alkoholische Getränke, während Saft und Wasser alkoholfrei sind.
Wine and beer are alcoholic drinks, while juice and water are non-alcoholic.
alkoholisch
alcoholic
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Meanings
Usage tips
False friend
'Alkoholisch' (alcoholic) only describes things that contain alcohol, never a person. A person who is addicted to alcohol is called 'der Alkoholiker' or 'die Alkoholikerin' in German, not 'eine alkoholische Person'.
EXAMPLE
Dieses Getränk ist nicht alkoholisch, es ist Saft.
This drink is not alcoholic; it's juice.
Word family
The adjective 'alkoholisch' is derived from the noun 'der Alkohol' (alcohol). The ending '-isch' is often used to form adjectives from nouns that describe an affiliation or quality.
EXAMPLE
Der Geruch in der Bar war stark alkoholisch.
The smell in the bar was strongly alcoholic.
Typical combination
The most common and important combination for this word is 'alkoholische Getränke' (alcoholic drinks).
EXAMPLE
Auf der Party gab es sowohl alkoholische als auch alkoholfreie Getränke.
At the party, there were both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The opposite
The direct opposite of 'alkoholisch' (alcoholic) is 'alkoholfrei' (non-alcoholic). This fixed form is used to express that something contains no alcohol.
EXAMPLE
Immer mehr Brauereien bieten auch alkoholfreies Bier an.
More and more breweries are also offering non-alcoholic beer.
Compare with
alkoholisch vs geistig
mental / spiritual
'geistig' and 'alkoholisch' can both refer to drinks containing alcohol, but they are used differently. 'alkoholisch' is the normal adjective for anything that contains alcohol. In this meaning, 'geistig' appears almost only in the fixed, rather formal expression 'geistige Getränke' (alcoholic beverages). Without this context, 'geistig' usually means something related to thinking or the mind. This can easily lead to confusion. In normal everyday language, 'alkoholisch' is usually clearer.
alkoholisch
Beim Einkaufen sucht du ein alkoholfreies Bier statt eines alkoholischen Getränks.
When shopping, you look for a non-alcoholic beer instead of an alcoholic drink.
geistig
Auf der Speisekarte stehen Wein, Bier und andere geistige Getränke.
The menu includes wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages.
In real life
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