ominös
ominous
Eerie and usually suggesting something evil, threatening, or disastrous.
EXAMPLE
Über dem Dorf lag eine ominöse Stille.
An ominous silence hung over the village.
ominös
ominous / mysterious
ominös – ominöser – am ominösesten
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Meanings
ominös
mysterious
Dubious, questionable, or puzzling; unclear in origin, identity, or nature and therefore seeming suspicious.
EXAMPLE
Niemand wusste, wer der ominöse Anrufer war.
Nobody knew who the mysterious caller was.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry ominös, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | ominös |
|---|---|
| comparative | ominöser |
| superlative | am ominösesten |
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 ominös.
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 ominös.
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 ominös.
Usage tips
Literary style
'Ominös' (ominous / mysterious) occurs particularly often in narrative, journalistic, or elevated writing. It often describes an atmosphere or event with a hint of danger, creating suspense.
EXAMPLE
Die ominösen Nachrichten beunruhigten die Bewohner.
The ominous news unsettled the residents.
Ein ominöses Geräusch kam aus dem verlassenen Gebäude.
An ominous noise came from the abandoned building.
Typical collocations
Common combinations include 'ominöse Stille' (ominous silence), 'ominöse Zeichen' (ominous signs), 'ominöse Vorahnung' (ominous premonition), and 'ominöses Schweigen' (ominous silence). The adjective often comes before a noun that points to possible danger or impending disaster.
EXAMPLE
Seine ominösen Andeutungen machten alle nervös.
His ominous hints made everyone nervous.
Context clue
'Ominös' (ominous) often appears alongside words such as 'Vorahnung' (premonition), 'Warnung' (warning), 'Gefahr' (danger), or 'Unheil' (disaster). These accompanying words show that something is being interpreted as a threatening sign, rather than simply as unusual.
EXAMPLE
Die ominöse Warnung ließ sie die Reise sofort abbrechen.
The ominous warning made her cut the trip short immediately.
In real life
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