barbarisch
barbaric
Extremely cruel and inhumane.
EXAMPLE
Die Gefangenen wurden auf barbarische Weise gefoltert.
The prisoners were tortured in a barbaric manner.
barbarisch
barbaric
barbarisch – barbarischer – am barbarischsten
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Meanings
barbarisch
barbaric
From the speaker's perspective, lacking culture and civilization; crude and uncivilized. This usage is derogatory.
EXAMPLE
Der Reisende bezeichnete die ihm fremden Sitten als barbarisch.
The traveler described the unfamiliar customs as barbaric.
barbarisch
extremely
Colloquially used as an intensifier: very large, strong, or intense; to an extreme degree.
EXAMPLE
Draußen ist es heute barbarisch kalt.
It's extremely cold outside today.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry barbarisch, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | barbarisch |
|---|---|
| comparative | barbarischer |
| superlative | am barbarischsten |
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 barbarisch.
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 barbarisch.
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 barbarisch.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning can often be recognized from the surrounding context: when it concerns violence or suffering, „barbarisch“ (barbaric) describes cruel actions; when it concerns customs or behavior, it expresses a derogatory judgment about a culture. When it appears directly before an adjective that can be intensified, it is usually used as a colloquial intensifier.
EXAMPLE
Die Soldaten verübten einen barbarischen Angriff auf das Dorf.
The soldiers carried out a barbaric attack on the village.
Seine barbarischen Tischmanieren schockierten die Gäste.
His barbaric table manners shocked the guests.
Die Prüfung war barbarisch schwer.
The exam was extremely difficult.
Typical collocations
In the meaning „grausam“ (cruel), „barbarisch“ (barbaric) often appears with words related to violence and mistreatment. Typical collocations include „barbarische Gewalt“ (barbaric violence), „ein barbarischer Akt“ (a barbaric act), and „jemanden barbarisch behandeln“ (to treat someone barbarically).
EXAMPLE
Die Organisation verurteilte den barbarischen Akt auf das Schärfste.
The organization condemned the barbaric act in the strongest possible terms.
Colloquial intensifier
As an intensifier, „barbarisch“ (extremely) often appears directly before an adjective or adverb and describes a particularly high degree. This usage is especially common in spoken language and personal statements.
EXAMPLE
Die neue Wohnung ist barbarisch teuer.
The new apartment is extremely expensive.
Im Stadion war es barbarisch laut.
It was incredibly loud in the stadium.
In real life
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