schwerfällig
clumsy
Slow and laborious in movement; lacking ease or skill.
EXAMPLE
Der alte Mann erhob sich schwerfällig aus seinem Sessel.
The old man rose clumsily from his armchair.
schwerfällig
cumbersome / sluggish
schwerfällig – schwerfälliger – am schwerfälligsten
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Meanings
schwerfällig
mentally sluggish
Slow in thinking and understanding; having difficulty mentally adjusting to something new.
EXAMPLE
Nach der schlaflosen Nacht war ich geistig so schwerfällig, dass ich selbst einfache Zusammenhänge kaum verstand.
After the sleepless night, I was so mentally sluggish that I could barely understand even simple connections.
schwerfällig
cumbersome
Organized in a complicated way and therefore slow or inflexible in its procedures and decisions.
EXAMPLE
Die schwerfällige Verwaltung braucht Monate, um einen einfachen Antrag zu bearbeiten.
The cumbersome administration takes months to process a simple application.
schwerfällig
ponderous
Cumbersome in its linguistic style and lacking a fluent, easily understandable form of expression.
EXAMPLE
Der Aufsatz ist schwerfällig geschrieben und wegen seiner langen, verschachtelten Sätze mühsam zu lesen.
The essay is ponderously written and laborious to read because of its long, complex sentences.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry schwerfällig, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | schwerfällig |
|---|---|
| comparative | schwerfälliger |
| superlative | am schwerfälligsten |
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 schwerfällig.
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 schwerfällig.
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 schwerfällig.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
When referring to physical movements, „schwerfällig“ (clumsy) is often used with „sich bewegen“ (to move), „sich erheben“ (to rise), or „gehen“ (to walk). The phrase „ein schwerfälliger Gang“ (a clumsy gait) is also typical.
EXAMPLE
Mit dem schweren Rucksack bewegte er sich schwerfällig über die Felsen.
With the heavy backpack, he moved clumsily across the rocks.
Context clue
The phrase „geistig schwerfällig“ (mentally sluggish) makes it clear that the meaning concerns thinking. Words such as „Denken“ (thinking), „Begreifen“ (understanding), or „Gedankengang“ (train of thought) also point to this meaning.
EXAMPLE
Durch die starken Medikamente fühlte sie sich geistig schwerfällig.
The strong medication made her feel mentally sluggish.
Derogatory effect
Describing someone as „schwerfällig“ (sluggish) in their thinking expresses a negative judgment and can be hurtful. Pay attention to whether you are describing a temporary state or a permanent characteristic.
EXAMPLE
Seine Kollegen bezeichneten ihn als geistig schwerfällig, was ihn sehr verletzte.
His colleagues described him as mentally sluggish, which hurt him deeply.
Typical collocations
When referring to organizations, common phrases include „ein schwerfälliger Apparat“ (a cumbersome bureaucracy), „schwerfällige Strukturen“ (cumbersome structures), and „schwerfällige Entscheidungsprozesse“ (cumbersome decision-making processes). In this expression, „Apparat“ (apparatus) refers to the organization with its various departments and areas of responsibility.
EXAMPLE
Die Firma will ihre schwerfälligen Entscheidungsprozesse durch klarere Zuständigkeiten verbessern.
The company wants to improve its cumbersome decision-making processes by establishing clearer areas of responsibility.
Typical collocations
In reviews of texts, „schwerfällig“ (ponderous) is often used with „Stil“ (style), „Satzbau“ (sentence structure), or „Formulierungen“ (wording). „Wirken“ (to seem) can be used to describe the impression the language makes while reading.
EXAMPLE
Durch die vielen Wiederholungen und langen Einschübe wirkt der Stil schwerfällig.
The many repetitions and long asides make the style seem ponderous.
In real life
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