fies
mean
Mean, malicious, or unfair in behavior toward other people.
EXAMPLE
Es war wirklich fies von ihm, dich vor allen Leuten auszulachen.
It was really mean of him to laugh at you in front of everyone.
fies
mean / nasty
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Meanings
fies
nasty
Very unpleasant to the senses; disgusting or repulsive in taste, smell, or appearance.
EXAMPLE
Der Geruch aus dem Abfluss ist einfach nur fies.
The smell from the drain is just plain nasty.
fies
bad / nasty
Colloquial for very strong, intense, or bad, usually in a negative context such as pain, cold, or a cold/illness.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe heute fiese Kopfschmerzen und kann mich kaum konzentrieren.
I have a nasty headache today and can hardly concentrate.
Usage tips
Register: colloquial
The word 'fies' (mean/nasty) is used almost exclusively in colloquial language. In formal or written contexts, it is rather uncommon.
EXAMPLE
Sag so was nicht, das ist fies!
Don't say something like that, that's mean!
Context clues
The meaning of 'fies' (mean/nasty) depends heavily on the context. If it refers to a person or action, it means 'gemein' (mean). If it refers to smell or taste, it means 'ekelhaft' (disgusting). In connection with pain or weather, it means 'stark' (strong) or 'schlimm' (bad).
EXAMPLE
Sein Kommentar war wirklich fies. (gemein)
His comment was really mean. (mean)
Typical collocations
When talking about mean behavior, you often hear combinations such as 'eine fiese Bemerkung' (a mean remark), 'ein fieser Trick' (a nasty trick), or 'ein fieses Grinsen' (a nasty grin).
EXAMPLE
Mit einem fiesen Trick hat er das Spiel gewonnen.
He won the game with a nasty trick.
Use for intensity
Colloquially, 'fies' (bad/nasty) is often used as an intensifier for negative things. Typical examples are 'fiese Schmerzen' (bad pain), 'eine fiese Kälte' (a biting cold), or 'ein fieser Muskelkater' (bad muscle soreness).
EXAMPLE
Draußen herrscht eine fiese Kälte.
There is a biting cold outside.
Compare with
fies vs link
sneaky / left
Link and fies can both describe an unpleasant or unfair action. Link particularly emphasizes deceit, dishonesty, or a fraudulent trick; fies refers more generally to cruel or mean behavior. Choose link when the deception is important, and fies when the main point is the maliciousness.
fies
Der fiese Trick machte sich über seine Unwissenheit lustig.
The nasty trick mocked his ignorance.
link
Der linke Trick brachte ihn dazu, freiwillig mehr Geld zu bezahlen.
The sneaky trick persuaded him to pay more money voluntarily.
In real life
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