01
schroff
brusque
Describes a person's behavior that is curt, unfriendly, and rude.
example
Seine schroffe Art macht es schwer, mit ihm ins Gespräch zu kommen.
His brusque manner makes it hard to strike up a conversation with him.
schroff
brusque / rugged
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning of 'schroff' depends on the noun it describes. If it refers to a person or their words, it means 'unfriendly'. If it describes a landscape, it means 'steep and rocky'. With abstract nouns like 'Gegensatz' (contrast), it means 'harsh and sudden'.
EXAMPLE
Er gab mir eine schroffe Antwort.
He gave me a brusque answer.
Typical combinations
When it is about unfriendly behavior, 'schroff' is often connected with communication. Typical phrases are 'eine schroffe Antwort' (a brusque answer), 'ein schroffer Ton' (a brusque tone), or the adverbial phrase 'jemanden schroff abweisen' (to reject someone brusquely).
EXAMPLE
Sein schroffer Tonfall hat mich sehr überrascht.
His brusque tone surprised me a lot.
Typical combinations
When describing landscapes, 'schroff' is often combined with geological features. Common combinations are 'schroffe Felsen' (rugged rocks), 'eine schroffe Bergwand' (a rugged mountain face), or 'eine schroffe Küste' (a rugged coast).
EXAMPLE
Die schroffen Felsen ragten aus dem Meer.
The rugged rocks jutted out of the sea.
Compare with
schroff vs freundlich
friendly
'freundlich' and 'schroff' are opposites when describing people's behavior. 'freundlich' describes a nice, polite, and pleasant manner. 'schroff' describes a harsh, curt, and unfriendly manner. Someone who answers in a friendly way shows respect and openness. Someone who answers brusquely seems dismissive or impatient. For landscapes or strong contrasts, 'schroff' can also have other meanings, but here it is about how people deal with others.
schroff
Beim Termin antwortete er schroff und sah kaum von seinen Papieren auf.
At the appointment, he answered brusquely and barely looked up from his papers.
freundlich
Die Ärztin ist freundlich und nimmt sich Zeit für meine Fragen.
The doctor is friendly and takes time for my questions.
In real life
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