01
unlustig
unfunny
Not funny or amusing; something that gives no reason to laugh.
example
Seine Witze waren so unlustig, dass niemand im Raum lachte.
His jokes were so unfunny that no one in the room laughed.
unlustig
unfunny / unmotivated
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The word consists of the prefix 'un-' (not) and 'lustig' (funny/cheerful). 'Lustig' can refer to 'Witz' (joke/humor) (lustig = funny) or to 'die Lust' (desire; wanting to do something). This results in the two meanings: not funny or having no desire to do something.
EXAMPLE
Ich fand den Film überhaupt nicht lustig, sondern eher langweilig.
I didn't find the film funny at all, but rather boring.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If 'unlustig' refers to a thing such as a joke or a film, it means 'not funny'. If it refers to a person's feeling or behavior, it means 'unmotivated'.
EXAMPLE
Seine Bemerkung sollte ein Witz sein, war aber nur unlustig.
His comment was supposed to be a joke, but it was just unfunny.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'not funny', 'unlustig' (unfunny) often describes things that are actually supposed to be entertaining. Typical combinations are 'ein unlustiger Witz' (an unfunny joke), 'ein unlustiger Komiker' (an unfunny comedian), or 'eine unlustige Situation' (an unfunny situation).
EXAMPLE
Er hat einen unlustigen Witz nach dem anderen erzählt.
He told one unfunny joke after another.
Register and use
The meaning 'unmotivated' is common mainly in colloquial language. It is usually used predicatively to describe a person's state, e.g. 'Ich bin heute unlustig' (I feel unmotivated today).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Arbeitstag war er zu unlustig, um noch ins Fitnessstudio zu gehen.
After the long workday, he was too unmotivated to go to the gym.
Compare with
unlustig vs lustig
funny
'lustig' and 'unlustig' are opposites here. 'lustig' says that something is funny or makes people laugh. 'unlustig' says that something is not funny and is not enjoyable. 'unlustig' often sounds somewhat judgmental: you find a joke, a comment, or a situation bad or boring. Important: in other contexts, 'unlustig' can also mean 'without desire or motivation', but as the opposite of 'lustig', it is about humor.
unlustig
Der Kommentar war unlustig, und niemand im Raum hat gelacht.
The comment was unfunny, and no one in the room laughed.
lustig
Der Lehrer erzählte am Ende der Stunde eine lustige Geschichte.
At the end of the lesson, the teacher told a funny story.
In real life
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