crazy / nuts
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crazy / nuts
(Colloquial, derogatory) Crazy, stupid, or not in one's right mind. Often used in the phrase 'jemanden birne machen' (to drive someone crazy).
Der Lärm von der Baustelle macht mich noch ganz birne.
The noise from the construction site is going to drive me completely nuts.
The adjective 'birne' (crazy/nuts) is derived from the noun 'die Birne' (pear). 'Birne' is also a colloquial word for 'head'. So when someone is 'birne' (crazy/nuts), something is not right with their head.
Von der ganzen Rechnerei ist mir der Kopf ganz birne geworden.
All that calculating has made my head go completely nuts.
This adjective is invariable and is only used predicatively (after a verb like 'sein' (to be) or 'werden' (to become)) or adverbially. You cannot put it before a noun and decline it.
Nach der langen Party war er am nächsten Tag total birne.
After the long party, he was totally out of it the next day.
The word is often used in fixed expressions. Very common are 'jemanden birne machen' (to drive someone crazy) and 'ganz birne sein/werden' (to be/become completely confused).
Hör auf mit dem Lärm, du machst mich noch ganz birne!
Stop making that noise, you're going to drive me completely nuts!
'Birne' (crazy/nuts) is a very informal colloquial word. Use it only in casual conversations with friends or family, not in formal or written contexts.
Die Hitze macht mich heute echt birne.
The heat is really making me feel crazy today.
stupid / unfortunate
'dumm' and 'birne' can have a similar effect in very colloquial, derogatory language when someone seems unreasonable or not in their right mind. 'dumm' is the normal adjective and can be used in many situations, even though it can be impolite. 'birne', by contrast, is strongly colloquial and sounds crude. You are more likely to hear it in fixed expressions like 'jemanden birne machen' (to drive someone crazy). For learners, the important point is: in most situations, 'dumm' is easier to understand and more common; 'birne' is something you should recognize, but not actively use in polite language.
Das laute Telefonat macht mich ganz birne.
That loud phone call is driving me completely nuts.
Du bist nicht dumm, du brauchst nur mehr Zeit zum Üben.
You are not stupid; you just need more time to practice.