undankbar
ungrateful
Showing no gratitude for help, kindness, or gifts.
EXAMPLE
Er war so undankbar und hat sich nicht einmal für das teure Geschenk bedankt.
He was so ungrateful and didn't even say thank you for the expensive gift.
undankbar
ungrateful
undankbar – undankbarer – am undankbarsten
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Meanings
undankbar
thankless
Refers to a task or activity that is difficult or unpleasant and for which one receives little or no recognition.
EXAMPLE
Das Geschirr für die ganze Familie zu spülen ist eine undankbare Aufgabe.
Washing the dishes for the whole family is a thankless task.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry undankbar, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | undankbar |
|---|---|
| comparative | undankbarer |
| superlative | am undankbarsten |
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 undankbar.
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 undankbar.
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 undankbar.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of the prefix 'un-' and the adjective 'dankbar' (grateful). The prefix 'un-' negates the base word, so it means 'not grateful.'
EXAMPLE
Es ist enttäuschend, wenn Menschen undankbar sind.
It is disappointing when people are ungrateful.
Context clue
The meaning changes depending on what is being described. If 'undankbar' refers to a person, it means 'not grateful.' If it refers to a task or job, it means 'laborious and without recognition.'
EXAMPLE
Er ist ein undankbarer Mensch, der nie zufrieden ist.
He is an ungrateful person who is never satisfied.
Sentence structure with preposition
If you want to express what someone is ungrateful for, use the preposition 'für' (for) followed by the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Sie war undankbar für all die Hilfe, die sie bekommen hatte.
She was ungrateful for all the help she had received.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'without recognition,' the word is almost always used in the combination 'eine undankbare Aufgabe' (a thankless task) or 'eine undankbare Arbeit' (thankless work).
EXAMPLE
Die Organisation des Festes war eine undankbare Aufgabe, weil sich am Ende alle nur beschwert haben.
Organizing the party was a thankless task because in the end everyone only complained.
In real life
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