derb
coarse
Crude, vulgar, or unrefined in language, behavior, or humor.
EXAMPLE
Er ist für seine derben Witze bekannt, die nicht jeder mag.
He is known for his coarse jokes, which not everyone likes.
derb
coarse / hearty / awesome
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Meanings
derb
hearty
Strong, substantial, or hearty, often in reference to food. It can also describe a robust, sturdy build.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Wanderung gab es eine derbe Mahlzeit mit Brot, Wurst und Käse.
After the hike, there was a hearty meal with bread, sausage, and cheese.
derb
awesome
Colloquially, especially in youth slang, used as an expression for 'great', 'intense', or 'cool'.
EXAMPLE
Das Konzert gestern Abend war einfach nur derb!
The concert last night was just awesome!
derb
stiff
Describes a material as firm, stiff, and not very flexible, for example leather or fabric.
EXAMPLE
Für die Arbeitsschuhe wurde besonders derbes Leder verwendet.
Especially stiff leather was used for the work shoes.
Usage tips
Positive and negative meaning
The word 'derb' can be evaluated very differently depending on the context. 'Eine derbe Ausdrucksweise' (coarse language) is usually negative, but 'eine derbe Mahlzeit' (a hearty meal) or 'ein derbes Konzert' (an awesome concert) are meant positively.
EXAMPLE
Sein derber Humor kommt nicht bei allen gut an.
His coarse humor does not go down well with everyone.
Typical collocations: language
When 'derb' describes a crude or unrefined manner, it often refers to communication. Typical nouns are 'Witz' (joke), 'Spruch' (remark), 'Humor' (humor), or 'Ausdrucksweise' (way of speaking/language).
EXAMPLE
Er entschuldigte sich später für seinen derben Spruch.
He later apologized for his coarse remark.
Typical collocations: food
In connection with food, 'derb' describes a strong, simple, and filling meal. It is often used for traditional or rustic dishes.
EXAMPLE
In der Berghütte servierte man uns eine derbe Brotzeit mit Speck.
In the mountain hut, they served us a hearty snack with bacon.
Register: youth slang
In colloquial language and youth slang, 'derb' is used as a positive adjective in the sense of 'great', 'intense', or 'cool'. In this context, it is very informal.
EXAMPLE
Die Party gestern war echt derb, wir hatten so viel Spaß!
The party yesterday was really awesome; we had so much fun!
Context: materials
To describe the firm and robust texture of a material, 'derb' is often combined with nouns such as 'Leder' (leather), 'Stoff' (fabric), or 'Gewebe' (woven fabric/textile).
EXAMPLE
Die Jacke ist aus einem derben Baumwollstoff gemacht und sehr widerstandsfähig.
The jacket is made of a stiff cotton fabric and is very durable.
Compare with
derb vs heftig
violent / intense
In colloquial language, heftig and derb can be used to describe an extreme experience. Heftig expresses surprise at its strong or shocking impact and is not automatically positive. Derb sounds more like youth slang and can explicitly be approving, meaning great.
derb
Das Konzert war echt derb, besonders die großartige Zugabe.
The concert was seriously awesome, especially the amazing encore.
heftig
Das Konzert war echt heftig, besonders die viel zu laute Anlage.
The concert was seriously intense, especially with the sound system turned way too loud.
In real life
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