mad / crazy
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mad / confused
Mentally confused, crazy, or not in one's right mind. It can also be used for something very strange or chaotic.
Nach dem Unfall redete er ganz irr und zusammenhanglos.
After the accident, he spoke in a completely confused and incoherent way.
incredible / huge
Colloquial for tremendous, incredible, or enormous. It is used as an intensifier to emphasize a quality.
Wir hatten gestern ein irres Glück mit dem Wetter.
We had incredible luck with the weather yesterday.
The adjective 'irr' (mad/crazy) belongs to the word family around the verb 'irren', which means 'to be mistaken' or 'to wander around'. Related words are 'der Irrtum' (the mistake) or 'die Irrfahrt' (a chaotic journey).
Es war ein Irrtum zu glauben, dass die Prüfung einfach wird.
It was a mistake to believe that the exam would be easy.
The meaning of 'irr' (mad/crazy) depends heavily on the context. If it refers to a person or their words, it usually means 'confused'. If it stands before a noun to intensify it, it colloquially means 'incredible' or 'enormous'.
Der alte Mann wurde im Alter etwas irr.
The old man became somewhat confused in old age.
In the meaning 'verwirrt' (confused), 'irr' is often used with verbs such as 'reden' (to talk), 'sein' (to be), or 'werden' (to become). A common phrase is also 'jemanden irr machen', which means 'to drive someone crazy'.
Der Lärm von der Baustelle macht mich noch ganz irr.
The noise from the construction site is going to drive me completely crazy.
The meaning 'gewaltig' (tremendous) or 'unglaublich' (incredible) is very colloquial. It is used in informal conversations to express amazement or a high degree of intensity.
Das war ein irrer Zufall, dich hier zu treffen!
That was an incredible coincidence, meeting you here!
In colloquial language, 'irr' functions as an intensifier before nouns. Typical combinations are 'ein irrer Spaß' (great fun), 'ein irres Geld' (a huge amount of money), or 'ein irres Gefühl' (an incredible feeling).
Die Achterbahnfahrt war ein irrer Spaß.
The roller-coaster ride was great fun.
incredible
Unglaublich and irr can colloquially intensify a quality. Irr is particularly casual and colloquial. Unglaublich can serve as a mere intensifier, but depending on the context it can also suggest that something is hard to believe.
Das Konzert war irr gut.
The concert was insanely good.
Das Konzert war unglaublich gut.
The concert was incredibly good.
