beängstigend
frightening
Causing fear or anxiety; seeming eerie or threatening.
EXAMPLE
Die Stille im alten Haus war beängstigend.
The silence in the old house was frightening.
beängstigend
frightening
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
'Beängstigend' (frightening) is the present participle of the verb 'beängstigen' (to frighten). This verb is derived from the noun 'die Angst' (fear). So the form describes something that actively creates or causes fear.
EXAMPLE
Er erzählte eine beängstigende Geschichte vom Krieg.
He told a frightening story about the war.
Function of the ending '-end'
The ending '-end' (present participle) signals that something has a quality or performs an action. So 'beängstigend' (frightening) describes the thing that *causes* fear, not the person who *feels* fear.
EXAMPLE
Die Geschwindigkeit des Autos war beängstigend.
The speed of the car was frightening.
Use as an adverb
'Beängstigend' (frightening) can also be used as an adverb to intensify another adjective or adverb. In that case it means something like 'shockingly' or 'extremely'.
EXAMPLE
Das Wasser war beängstigend kalt.
The water was frighteningly cold.
Compare with
beängstigend vs unheimlich
creepy / very
Unheimlich and beängstigend can both describe something that causes fear or unease. Unheimlich additionally emphasizes a mysterious or difficult-to-grasp effect; beängstigend focuses more directly on the fear caused or on a recognizable threat.
beängstigend
Die schnelle Annäherung des Sturms war beängstigend.
The storm’s rapid approach was frightening.
unheimlich
Das unerklärliche Dröhnen während des Sturms war unheimlich.
The unexplained rumbling during the storm was eerie.
In real life
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