sportlich
athletic
Relating to sports, good at sports, or physically active and trained.
EXAMPLE
Er ist ein sehr sportlicher Typ und fährt jeden Tag mit dem Rad zur Arbeit.
He is a very athletic type and rides his bike to work every day.
sportlich
sporty / athletic
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Meanings
sportlich
fair
Showing fair and decent behavior, especially in competition or disagreements.
EXAMPLE
Es war sehr sportlich von ihr, ihren Fehler sofort zuzugeben.
It was very fair of her to admit her mistake right away.
sportlich
sporty
Refers to clothing that is casual, comfortable, and suitable for movement.
EXAMPLE
Für den Ausflug am Wochenende ziehe ich etwas Sportliches an.
For the weekend trip, I'll wear something sporty.
sportlich
ambitious
Colloquial for demanding, ambitious, or difficult to achieve.
EXAMPLE
Das ganze Haus an einem Wochenende zu streichen, ist ein ziemlich sportliches Ziel.
Painting the whole house in one weekend is a pretty ambitious goal.
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'sportlich' (sporty/athletic) is derived directly from the noun 'der Sport' (sport). The ending '-lich' is a typical way to form an adjective from a noun.
EXAMPLE
Sie interessiert sich für alle sportlichen Aktivitäten.
She is interested in all athletic activities.
Context clues
The meaning of 'sportlich' (sporty/athletic) depends strongly on the context. If it refers to a person, it is about fitness. If it refers to behavior, it is about fairness. If it refers to a goal or plan, it means 'anspruchsvoll' (demanding/ambitious).
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder ist sehr sportlich und geht dreimal pro Woche ins Fitnessstudio.
My brother is very athletic and goes to the gym three times a week.
Figurative meaning
In this meaning, 'sportlich' (fair/sporting) does not describe the body, but rather someone's character or an action. A 'sportliche Geste' (sporting gesture), for example, is fair behavior toward a competitor.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine Niederlage sehr sportlich akzeptiert und dem Gewinner gratuliert.
He accepted his defeat very fairly and congratulated the winner.
Use as a noun
In connection with clothing, the adjective is often nominalized. The phrase 'etwas Sportliches' means 'sportliche Kleidung' (sporty clothing).
EXAMPLE
Für die Wanderung solltest du dir etwas Sportliches anziehen.
For the hike, you should put on something sporty.
Register: colloquial
The meaning 'anspruchsvoll' (demanding) or 'ehrgeizig' (ambitious) is mainly colloquial. It is often used to describe a tight schedule or a difficult goal.
EXAMPLE
In nur zwei Tagen umzuziehen, ist ein wirklich sportlicher Plan.
Moving in just two days is a really ambitious plan.
Compare with
sportlich vs fair
fair
In competition, both „fair“ and „sportlich“ can express respectful behavior. „Fair“ emphasizes following the rules and treating people equally, while „sportlich“ can also show generosity or acceptance of a defeat. Choose „fair“ for specific rules and „sportlich“ for the attitude shown afterward.
sportlich
Nach der knappen Niederlage gratulierte der Spieler seinem Gegner sportlich.
After the narrow defeat, the player sportingly congratulated his opponent.
fair
Die Spielerin blieb fair und hielt sich auch in der letzten Minute an die Regeln.
The player remained fair and followed the rules even in the final minute.
In real life
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