unthinkable
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unthinkable
Something that one cannot or does not want to imagine because it is extremely unlikely, shocking, or unacceptable.
Vor 50 Jahren wäre ein Computer in jeder Hosentasche undenkbar gewesen.
Fifty years ago, a computer in every pocket would have been unthinkable.
The word is built logically: the prefix 'un-' negates, the stem 'denk-' comes from 'denken' (to think), and the ending '-bar' means '-able' or 'capable of'. So 'undenkbar' literally means 'not think-able'.
Eine Welt ohne Internet ist für junge Leute heute undenkbar.
A world without the internet is unthinkable for young people today.
'Undenkbar' is very often used in the fixed structure 'Es ist/wäre undenkbar, ...' (It is/would be unthinkable ...), followed by a 'dass' clause or an infinitive with 'zu'.
Es ist undenkbar, dass er den Termin vergessen hat.
It is unthinkable that he forgot the appointment.
To strengthen the meaning, 'undenkbar' is often combined with adverbs like 'völlig' (completely), 'absolut' (absolutely), or 'einfach' (simply).
Ein Umzug in eine andere Stadt ist für sie zurzeit absolut undenkbar.
Moving to another city is absolutely unthinkable for her at the moment.
impossible
Unmöglich and undenkbar can both present an action or situation as completely ruled out. Unmöglich primarily denies that something can actually happen or be done, while undenkbar more strongly emphasizes that it is difficult to imagine or is shocking to contemplate. Use unmöglich when there is no possibility and undenkbar for an idea that is almost impossible to imagine.
Für die Familie war es undenkbar, das Haus plötzlich zu verlassen.
For the family, it was unthinkable to leave the house so suddenly.
Ohne gültiges Ticket ist die Fahrt mit diesem Zug unmöglich.
Without a valid ticket, traveling on this train is impossible.
