unecht
fake
Not original or not made from the specified material, but imitated or forged.
EXAMPLE
Der Händler erkannte sofort, dass die antike Münze unecht war.
The dealer immediately recognized that the antique coin was fake.
unecht
fake / insincere
unecht – unechter – am unechtesten
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Meanings
unecht
insincere
Not sincere or genuinely felt, but merely pretended.
EXAMPLE
Seine unechte Anteilnahme überzeugte niemanden.
His insincere sympathy convinced no one.
der unechte Bruch
improper fraction
A fraction in which the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator.
EXAMPLE
Bei fünf Dritteln handelt es sich um einen unechten Bruch.
Five thirds is an improper fraction.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry unecht, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | unecht |
|---|---|
| comparative | unechter |
| superlative | am unechtesten |
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 unecht.
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 unecht.
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 unecht.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Unecht' consists of the prefix 'un-' and the adjective 'echt' (genuine). Here, the prefix 'un-' indicates that a quality is negated or changed into its opposite.
EXAMPLE
Das Museum stellte eine unechte Perle neben das Original.
The museum displayed a fake pearl next to the original.
Context clue
The meaning can often be recognized from the surrounding words: Material and origin point to a forgery, while feelings and reactions point to pretended sincerity. In mathematical texts, 'unecht' typically appears with 'Bruch' (fraction), 'Zähler' (numerator), or 'Nenner' (denominator).
EXAMPLE
Der Gutachter stellte fest, dass das unechte Gold nur dünn beschichtet war.
The appraiser determined that the fake gold was only thinly coated.
Ihr unechtes Lächeln wirkte aufgesetzt.
Her fake smile seemed affected.
Typical collocations
For the meaning related to forgeries, collocations such as 'eine unechte Münze' (a fake coin), 'unechter Schmuck' (fake jewelry), and 'unechte Edelsteine' (fake gemstones) are particularly common.
EXAMPLE
Die Zollbeamten fanden in seinem Koffer mehrere unechte Edelsteine.
The customs officers found several fake gemstones in his suitcase.
Feelings and reactions
When describing pretended feelings, 'unecht' often refers to a visible reaction or attitude. Typical collocations include 'unechte Anteilnahme' (insincere sympathy), 'ein unechtes Lächeln' (a fake smile), and 'unechte Gefühle' (insincere feelings).
EXAMPLE
Trotz seiner unechten Anteilnahme bemerkte jeder, dass er sich langweilte.
Despite his insincere sympathy, everyone noticed that he was bored.
Mathematical term
'Unecht' is a mathematical term when used with fractions and usually appears directly before the word 'Bruch' (fraction). In this context, it refers to the relationship between the numerator and denominator, not to a forgery.
EXAMPLE
Der Bruch neun Achtel ist ein unechter Bruch.
The fraction nine eighths is an improper fraction.
Auf dem Arbeitsblatt sollten die Schüler jeden unechten Bruch markieren.
On the worksheet, the students had to mark every improper fraction.
In real life
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