trist
dreary
Bleak, dreary, and without variety or anything enjoyable.
EXAMPLE
Die grauen Wohnblocks und die kahlen Innenhöfe wirkten trist.
The gray apartment blocks and bare courtyards looked dreary.
trist
dreary / sad
trist – trister – am tristesten
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
trist
joyless
Sad and lacking joy; characterized by a depressed mood.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Tod ihres Freundes verbrachte sie triste Tage voller Trauer.
After her friend’s death, she spent joyless days filled with grief.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry trist, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | trist |
|---|---|
| comparative | trister |
| superlative | am tristesten |
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 trist.
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 trist.
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 trist.
Usage tips
Context clue
With “trist” (dreary / sad), the words it describes often show which meaning is intended: nouns for places, rooms, or landscapes refer to a joyless environment; nouns for feelings, days, or moods refer to a depressing inner situation.
EXAMPLE
Der triste Bahnhof lag an einer verlassenen Straße.
The dreary train station stood on an abandoned street.
Nach dem Streit herrschte eine triste Stimmung im Büro.
After the argument, there was a sad mood in the office.
Typical collocations
When describing a joyless environment, “trist” (dreary) often occurs with words such as “der Alltag” (everyday life), “die Landschaft” (landscape), “die Umgebung” (surroundings), “das Wohnviertel” (residential neighborhood), or “die Aussicht” (view).
EXAMPLE
Der triste Alltag in dem abgelegenen Dorf ließ ihn schnell ermüden.
The dreary everyday life in the remote village quickly exhausted him.
Typical collocations
When referring to a depressing mood, “trist” (joyless) often combines with words such as “die Stimmung” (mood), “die Tage” (days), “die Gedanken” (thoughts), or “die Erinnerung” (memory).
EXAMPLE
Sie verbrachte einige triste Tage allein in ihrer Wohnung.
She spent several joyless days alone in her apartment.
In real life
Loading video examples...