schnöde
contemptible
Deserving of contempt, mean, or morally bad.
EXAMPLE
Er ließ seine langjährige Freundin auf schnöde Weise im Stich.
He abandoned his long-term girlfriend in a contemptible way.
schnöde
contemptible / mundane / paltry
schnöde – schnöder – am schnödesten
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Meanings
schnöde
mundane
Ordinary, banal, and lacking any particular beauty or romance.
EXAMPLE
Am Ende scheiterte der große Traum an der schnöden Realität des Alltags.
In the end, the great dream was thwarted by the mundane reality of everyday life.
schnöde
paltry
Small, pitiful, or of little material value and therefore not worth much; especially in fixed expressions such as „schnödes Geld“ (paltry money) or „schnöder Mammon“ (filthy lucre).
EXAMPLE
Für schnödes Geld wollte sie ihre Überzeugungen nicht aufgeben.
She would not give up her convictions for paltry money.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry schnöde, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | schnöde |
|---|---|
| comparative | schnöder |
| superlative | am schnödesten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | - | - | - | -n |
| acc. | -n | - | - | -n |
| dat. | -n | -n | -n | -n |
| gen. | -n | -n | -n | -n |
Add the ending to schnöde.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -r | - | -s | -n |
| acc. | -n | - | -s | -n |
| dat. | -n | -n | -n | -n |
| gen. | -n | -n | -n | -n |
Add the ending to schnöde.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -r | - | -s | - |
| acc. | -n | - | -s | - |
| dat. | -m | -r | -m | -n |
| gen. | -n | -r | -n | -r |
Add the ending to schnöde.
Usage tips
Register and tone
„Schnöde“ is more typical of elevated or literary written language and usually sounds clearly judgmental. In everyday speech, it is especially common in fixed or deliberately pointed expressions.
EXAMPLE
Seine schnöden Bemerkungen verletzten die anderen Gäste.
His contemptible remarks hurt the other guests.
Typical collocations
When referring to contemptible treatment, „schnöde“ often occurs with words such as „Behandlung“ (treatment), „Abweisung“ (rejection), or „im Stich lassen“ (to abandon someone). It often describes an action through which someone is treated disrespectfully.
EXAMPLE
Nach Jahren treuer Mitarbeit erfuhr sie eine schnöde Behandlung.
After years of loyal service, she received contemptible treatment.
Everyday context
In this sense, „schnöde“ often combines with everyday words such as „Realität“ (reality), „Wirklichkeit“ (reality), or „Alltag“ (everyday life). This creates a deliberately sobering or disappointed tone.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Urlaub holte ihn der schnöde Alltag schnell wieder ein.
After the vacation, mundane everyday life quickly caught up with him again.
Fixed expressions
For the meaning of something materially insignificant, fixed expressions such as „schnödes Geld“ (paltry money) and „schnöder Mammon“ (filthy lucre) are especially typical. They often express disdain for the financial aspect of something.
EXAMPLE
Der Verein lebt vom Engagement seiner Mitglieder und nicht vom schnöden Mammon.
The association relies on the commitment of its members, not on filthy lucre.
In real life
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