fantastisch
fantastic
As an expression of enthusiasm: very good, great, wonderful.
EXAMPLE
Das Essen in diesem Restaurant war einfach fantastisch!
The food in this restaurant was simply fantastic!
fantastisch
fantastic
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Meanings
fantastisch
fantastical
Existing only in the imagination, unreal, or unbelievable. Refers to things that do not correspond to reality.
EXAMPLE
In dem Roman geht es um fantastische Wesen aus einer anderen Welt.
The novel is about fantastical beings from another world.
fantastisch
tremendous
Incredibly large or high; describing an extreme, almost unimaginable dimension.
EXAMPLE
Das Unternehmen machte letztes Jahr einen fantastischen Gewinn.
The company made a tremendous profit last year.
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'fantastisch' (fantastic/fantastical) is closely related to the noun 'die Fantasie' (fantasy/imagination). This helps you directly understand the meaning 'unreal' or 'existing only in the imagination'.
EXAMPLE
Er hat eine blühende Fantasie und erfindet fantastische Geschichten.
He has a vivid imagination and invents fantastical stories.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'great', 'fantastisch' (fantastic) is often used to describe personal impressions. Typical combinations are 'fantastisches Wetter' (fantastic weather), 'eine fantastische Idee' (a fantastic idea), or 'fantastisch aussehen' (to look fantastic).
EXAMPLE
Du siehst in diesem Kleid fantastisch aus!
You look fantastic in this dress!
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning 'unreal' from the context. When the topic is fairy tales, myths, science fiction, or art, this meaning is usually intended. Pay attention to nouns like 'Wesen' (beings), 'Welten' (worlds), or 'Geschichten' (stories).
EXAMPLE
Der Film spielt in einer fantastischen Welt voller Magie.
The film is set in a fantastical world full of magic.
Context clue
When 'fantastisch' (tremendous) describes an unbelievable size, it is often connected with numbers, money, or quantities. Typical nouns here are 'Gewinn' (profit), 'Summe' (sum), or 'Preis' (price).
EXAMPLE
Der Sportler unterschrieb einen Vertrag über eine fantastische Summe.
The athlete signed a contract for a tremendous sum.
Compare with
fantastisch vs unglaublich
incredible
Unglaublich and fantastisch can both express an almost unimaginable size. Unglaublich can generally be used for extreme sizes; fantastisch has this meaning mainly in certain emphatic expressions such as “eine fantastische Summe” (a fantastic sum), and in other contexts it can also sound like praise.
fantastisch
Für das alte Gemälde zahlte der Käufer eine fantastische Summe.
The buyer paid a fantastic sum for the old painting.
unglaublich
Für das alte Gemälde zahlte der Käufer eine unglaubliche Summe.
The buyer paid an incredible sum for the old painting.
In real life
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