labil
unstable
Not stable or firm; subject to easy change and fluctuation.
EXAMPLE
Die politische Lage in der Region ist weiterhin labil.
The political situation in the region remains unstable.
labil
unstable
labil – labiler – am labilsten
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
labil
emotionally unstable
Easily thrown off balance psychologically and changeable in one's feelings or behavior.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Trennung war sie emotional sehr labil.
After the breakup, she was very emotionally unstable.
labil
medically unstable
In medicine or chemistry, subject to easy change or prone to disruption.
EXAMPLE
Der Patient hat einen labilen Kreislauf.
The patient has an unstable circulatory system.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry labil, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | labil |
|---|---|
| comparative | labiler |
| superlative | am labilsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to labil.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to labil.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to labil.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
In this meaning, „labil“ (unstable) often occurs with words such as „politische Lage“ (political situation), „wirtschaftliche Situation“ (economic situation), „Gleichgewicht“ (balance), or „Zustand“ (condition). It describes a situation that can change quickly.
EXAMPLE
Das fragile Gleichgewicht zwischen den beiden Gruppen ist labil.
The fragile balance between the two groups is unstable.
Describing people
When referring to people, „labil“ (unstable) is often further specified by „emotional“ (emotionally) or „psychisch“ (psychologically). The description can sound critical or derogatory, especially when it is used to characterize a person directly.
EXAMPLE
Seit dem Unfall ist er psychisch labil und braucht viel Unterstützung.
Since the accident, he has been psychologically unstable and needs a lot of support.
Medical context
This meaning is found particularly in medical texts and conversations. Signal words include „Kreislauf“ (circulation), „Blutdruck“ (blood pressure), and „Patient“ (patient); they show that „labil“ (unstable) refers to a physical condition or measurement.
EXAMPLE
Wegen seines labilen Blutdrucks wurde der Patient einige Stunden beobachtet.
Because of his unstable blood pressure, the patient was observed for several hours.
In real life
Loading video examples...