unerträglich
unbearable
So unpleasant, painful, or disturbing that one can hardly or not at all endure it.
EXAMPLE
Die Hitze in der Dachgeschosswohnung war im August unerträglich.
The heat in the attic apartment was unbearable in August.
unerträglich
unbearable
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Meanings
unerträglich
unbearable
Describes a person whose behavior or manner is extremely annoying, arrogant, or unpleasant.
EXAMPLE
Seine ständige Besserwisserei macht ihn für seine Kollegen unerträglich.
His constant know-it-all attitude makes him unbearable to his colleagues.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is built logically: the prefix 'un-' negates the verb 'ertragen' (to endure), and the ending '-lich' turns it into an adjective. So it literally means 'not to be endured'.
EXAMPLE
Der Lärm von der Baustelle ist einfach unerträglich.
The noise from the construction site is simply unbearable.
Sentence structure and use
To express for whom something is unbearable, you use the preposition 'für' followed by the accusative. This construction is very common.
EXAMPLE
Für empfindliche Ohren ist diese Musik unerträglich.
For sensitive ears, this music is unbearable.
Typical collocations
'Unerträglich' (unbearable) often describes strong sensory perceptions or feelings. Common combinations are 'unerträgliche Hitze' (unbearable heat), 'unerträglicher Schmerz' (unbearable pain), 'unerträglicher Lärm' (unbearable noise), or 'unerträglicher Gestank' (unbearable stench).
EXAMPLE
Nach der Zahn-OP hatte er unerträgliche Schmerzen.
After the dental surgery, he had unbearable pain.
Compare with
unerträglich vs unmöglich
impossible
Unmöglich and unerträglich can both express a strongly negative judgment of a person or their behavior. Unerträglich emphasizes how much others suffer from it or how difficult it is to tolerate, while unmöglich more generally condemns social inappropriateness. Use unerträglich for the distressing effect and unmöglich for personal disapproval.
unerträglich
Sein ständiges Unterbrechen war für die anderen unerträglich.
His constant interruptions were unbearable for the others.
unmöglich
Sein unmögliches Verhalten bei der Besprechung war völlig unhöflich.
His unacceptable behavior at the meeting was completely rude.
In real life
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