01
der Blödsinn
nonsense
A statement, idea, or action that is stupid, pointless, or obviously wrong.
example
Glaub nicht alles, was er sagt, das meiste davon ist reiner Blödsinn.
Don't believe everything he says; most of it is pure nonsense.
der Blödsinn
nonsense
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word composition
'Blödsinn' (nonsense) is a compound word made up of 'blöd' (stupid) and 'Sinn' (sense). So it literally describes something that has a 'stupid sense,' meaning it is pointless.
EXAMPLE
Seine Idee war so blöd, dass alle lachen mussten.
His idea was so stupid that everyone had to laugh.
Uncountable noun
'Blödsinn' (nonsense) is an uncountable noun and is almost always used in the singular without an article or with 'der'. You cannot say 'ein Blödsinn' or 'viele Blödsinne'.
EXAMPLE
Red doch nicht so viel Blödsinn!
Don't talk so much nonsense!
Register
The word 'Blödsinn' (nonsense) belongs to colloquial language. It is used less often in formal or written contexts.
EXAMPLE
„Ach, Blödsinn!“, rief er und lachte.
'Oh, nonsense!' he shouted and laughed.
Fixed expression
The combination 'Blödsinn machen' (to fool around/do silly things) is a very common fixed expression. It means to do stupid or childish things, often for fun.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder haben den ganzen Nachmittag nur Blödsinn gemacht.
The children just fooled around all afternoon.
Compare with
Blödsinn vs Sinn
meaning / sense
'der Sinn' and 'der Blödsinn' are often opposites. 'Sinn' means that something has meaning, a purpose, or a logical explanation. If something 'Sinn ergibt' or 'Sinn macht' (makes sense), it is understandable or reasonable. 'Blödsinn' is used when something seems stupid, wrong, or pointless. It is rather colloquial and can also sound unfriendly. Learners may confuse the words because 'Blödsinn' contains the word 'Sinn'. As a practical rule: 'Sinn' is positive or neutral, while 'Blödsinn' clearly evaluates something negatively.
Blödsinn
Meine Kollegin sagt, das Gerücht sei kompletter Blödsinn.
My colleague says the rumor is complete nonsense.
Sinn
Der Sinn dieser Regel ist, dass alle sicher arbeiten können.
The purpose of this rule is to allow everyone to work safely.
In real life
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