01
öde
boring
Describes something as dull, boring, and monotonous.
example
Die Party war total öde, deshalb bin ich früh gegangen.
The party was totally boring, so I left early.
öde
boring / desolate
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Context clue
The noun reveals the meaning: if 'öde' refers to an activity, a film, or an event, it means 'boring'. If it refers to a place such as a landscape, it means 'empty and abandoned'.
EXAMPLE
Ich fand den Vortrag ziemlich öde.
I found the lecture pretty boring.
Register
In the meaning 'boring', 'öde' belongs to colloquial language. It is an expressive word that you often hear in conversations with friends.
EXAMPLE
Der Sonntagnachmittag war total öde, weil das Wetter so schlecht war.
Sunday afternoon was totally boring because the weather was so bad.
Typical collocations
This meaning is often used to describe landscapes. Typical combinations are 'eine öde Gegend' (a desolate area), 'eine öde Wüste' (a desolate desert), or 'eine öde Felslandschaft' (a desolate rocky landscape).
EXAMPLE
Im Winter wirkt die ganze Gegend grau und öde.
In winter, the whole area looks gray and desolate.
Compare with
öde vs verlassen
to leave / rely
'verlassen' and 'öde' can both have to do with a place where there are no people. But the difference is important: 'verlassen' is a verb and describes someone leaving a place or leaving a person or group behind. 'öde' is an adjective and describes the impression a place gives: empty, barren, or deserted. Learners may confuse the words because an abandoned place often also looks desolate. In practical terms: you leave a place, but a place is 'öde' (desolate).
öde
Im Winter wirkt der Strand ohne Menschen ziemlich öde.
In winter, the beach looks pretty desolate without people.
verlassen
Nach dem Unterricht verlassen wir das Schulgebäude durch den Hinterausgang.
After class, we leave the school building through the back exit.
In real life
Loading video examples...