ill
awesome
A colloquial youth-language expression borrowed from English that means 'extreme', 'impressive', or 'very good'.
EXAMPLE
Dein neues Skateboard-Video ist echt ill geworden!
Your new skateboard video turned out really awesome!
ill
awesome / ill
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Meanings
ill
ill / unwell
An outdated or elevated word for 'sick' or 'unwell'.
EXAMPLE
Nach der langen Seereise fühlte sich der Kapitän matt und ill.
After the long sea voyage, the captain felt weak and ill.
Usage tips
Context clue
This word has two very different meanings, depending on the context. In youth language, 'ill' means something positive like 'super' or 'impressive'. In old literature or very elevated language, it means 'sick' or 'unwell'.
EXAMPLE
Der neue Song von ihm ist echt ill!
His new song is really awesome!
False friend
The youth-language meaning of 'ill' comes from English, where 'ill' can also mean 'impressive'. Do not confuse it with the main meaning of the English word 'ill', which is 'sick'. In German, the word 'krank' is used for 'sick'.
EXAMPLE
Deine Tanz-Performance war total ill!
Your dance performance was totally awesome!
Sentence structure
In its youth-language meaning, 'ill' is almost always used predicatively, that is, after the noun with a verb like 'sein' (to be) or 'werden' (to become). Using it directly before a noun attributively is very rare.
EXAMPLE
Die Party gestern war richtig ill.
The party yesterday was really awesome.
Register
The meaning 'sick' is outdated and belongs to elevated written language. Do not use this word in everyday language to say that someone is sick. It would sound very unnatural and old-fashioned.
EXAMPLE
In dem alten Brief stand, er fühle sich seit Tagen ill.
The old letter said that he had been feeling ill for days.
Compare with
ill vs cool
cool
Cool and ill can colloquially mean that something is impressive or very good. Cool is a broad, established positive evaluation. Ill is more strongly marked as English-influenced youth slang and is therefore especially suitable in a corresponding informal peer group.
ill
Einige Jugendliche fanden denselben Auftritt ill und feierten laut.
Some teenagers thought the same performance was awesome and celebrated loudly.
cool
Das Publikum fand den Auftritt der Band cool und applaudierte begeistert.
The audience thought the band’s performance was cool and applauded enthusiastically.
In real life
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