sensationell
sensational
Exceptionally good, great, or impressive. It is often used colloquially to express strong enthusiasm.
EXAMPLE
Das Essen in diesem Restaurant war einfach sensationell!
The food in this restaurant was simply sensational!
sensationell
sensational
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Meanings
sensationell
sensational
Causing a sensation; attracting great public attention.
EXAMPLE
Die Entdeckung eines Heilmittels wäre eine sensationelle Nachricht für die ganze Welt.
The discovery of a cure would be sensational news for the whole world.
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'sensationell' (sensational) is derived from the noun 'die Sensation' (sensation). A sensation is an event that attracts great attention. This origin helps you understand both meanings of the adjective.
EXAMPLE
Der Fund der alten Münzen war eine wissenschaftliche Sensation.
The discovery of the old coins was a scientific sensation.
Context clue
The meaning depends strongly on the context. When it is about personal opinions on things like food, films, or vacations, it means 'great'. When it is about news, discoveries, or public events, it means 'attention-grabbing' or 'sensational'.
EXAMPLE
Deine neue Frisur sieht sensationell aus!
Your new hairstyle looks sensational!
Register
In the meaning of 'great' or 'fantastic', 'sensationell' (sensational) is a typical colloquial word. It expresses strong, positive emotions and enthusiasm.
EXAMPLE
Die Party gestern war einfach sensationell!
The party yesterday was simply sensational!
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'attention-grabbing', the adjective is often combined with nouns from the areas of news, science, and sports. Typical phrases are 'eine sensationelle Nachricht' (a sensational piece of news), 'ein sensationeller Fund' (a sensational discovery), or 'ein sensationeller Sieg' (a sensational victory).
EXAMPLE
Dem Team gelang ein sensationeller Sieg gegen den Favoriten.
The team achieved a sensational victory against the favorite.
Compare with
sensationell vs spektakulär
spectacular
Both words describe an extraordinary event positively and can express that it attracts a great deal of attention. „Spektakulär“ emphasizes the dramatic, eye-catching effect more strongly, while „sensationell“ focuses more on exceptional quality or intense enthusiasm. „Spektakulär“ fits a dramatic presentation, while „sensationell“ is often used for a surprisingly great result.
sensationell
Der Sieg war sensationell, weil die junge Mannschaft den Favoriten klar besiegte.
The victory was sensational because the young team clearly defeated the favorites.
spektakulär
Der Sieg war spektakulär, weil die Mannschaft in der letzten Minute drei Tore schoss.
The victory was spectacular because the team scored three goals in the final minute.
In real life
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