unprofessional
Loading your saved state.
unprofessional
Describes behavior or a way of working that does not meet the expected standards of a profession, often with regard to competence, ethics, or conduct.
Es war sehr unprofessionell von ihm, den Kunden vor allen anderen zu kritisieren.
It was very unprofessional of him to criticize the customer in front of everyone else.
The word is made up of the prefix 'un-' and the adjective 'professionell' (professional). The prefix 'un-' expresses negation here. So 'unprofessionell' (unprofessional) means 'not professional'.
Seine Reaktion auf die Kritik wirkte sehr unprofessionell.
His reaction to the criticism seemed very unprofessional.
A very common construction is 'es ist unprofessionell, etwas zu tun' (it is unprofessional to do something). This is used to evaluate a specific behavior.
Es ist unprofessionell, während eines Meetings ständig auf das Handy zu schauen.
It is unprofessional to keep looking at your phone during a meeting.
In relation to behavior, 'unprofessionell' (unprofessional) is often combined with verbs like 'handeln' (to act), 'reagieren' (to react), or 'sich verhalten' (to behave).
Der Mitarbeiter hat in der Situation völlig unprofessionell gehandelt.
The employee acted completely unprofessionally in the situation.
professional
'professionell' and 'unprofessionell' are opposites when it comes to behavior, conduct, or the quality of work. 'professionell' means that something is done competently, objectively, and reliably. 'unprofessionell' means that something does not meet the expected standards or seems amateurish. This can refer to bad behavior, unclear organization, or poor quality. So the difference is clear: 'professionell' seems good and expert, while 'unprofessionell' seems disorganized, uncertain, or not appropriate for the situation.
Es war unprofessionell, dass die Firma den Termin ohne Erklärung abgesagt hat.
It was unprofessional that the company canceled the appointment without explanation.
Sein professionelles Auftreten beruhigt die Kunden sofort.
His professional manner immediately reassures the customers.