unerfreulich
unpleasant
Unpleasant, annoying, or disappointing, and therefore not a reason to be happy.
EXAMPLE
Die unerfreuliche Nachricht erreichte uns gestern Abend.
The unpleasant news reached us yesterday evening.
unerfreulich
unpleasant
unerfreulich – unerfreulicher – am unerfreulichsten
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry unerfreulich, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | unerfreulich |
|---|---|
| comparative | unerfreulicher |
| superlative | am unerfreulichsten |
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 unerfreulich.
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 unerfreulich.
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 unerfreulich.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Unerfreulich' consists of the prefix 'un-' and the adjective 'erfreulich' (pleasant). The prefix reverses the positive evaluation expressed by 'erfreulich'.
EXAMPLE
Die unerfreuliche Entwicklung beunruhigte viele Anwohner.
The unpleasant development worried many local residents.
Typical collocations
'Unerfreulich' frequently occurs with words such as 'Nachricht' (news), 'Ergebnis' (result), 'Erfahrung' (experience), 'Situation' (situation), or 'Entwicklung' (development). It usually evaluates a state of affairs or an event.
EXAMPLE
Die Untersuchung führte zu einem unerfreulichen Ergebnis.
The investigation led to an unpleasant result.
Register
'Unerfreulich' often sounds factual and somewhat formal. In official or professional contexts, the word can express a negative evaluation in a restrained way.
EXAMPLE
Der Bericht beschreibt mehrere unerfreuliche Vorfälle im vergangenen Jahr.
The report describes several unpleasant incidents from the previous year.
In real life
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