01
unwohl
unwell
To feel physically not well, slightly ill, or nauseous.
example
Nach dem fettigen Essen war mir den ganzen Abend unwohl.
After the greasy food, I felt unwell all evening.
unwohl
unwell / uncomfortable
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is the direct opposite of 'wohl' (well). The prefix 'un-' negates the adjective 'wohl' (good, healthy), so 'unwohl' (unwell/uncomfortable) literally means 'not good' or 'not healthy'.
EXAMPLE
Er fühlte sich nach der langen Reise sichtlich unwohl.
He visibly felt unwell after the long journey.
Two typical sentence patterns
'Unwohl' (unwell/uncomfortable) is almost always used in two fixed constructions. Either with the verb 'fühlen' (to feel): 'Ich fühle mich unwohl' (I feel unwell/uncomfortable), or with 'sein' (to be), where the person is in the dative: 'Mir ist unwohl' (I feel unwell).
EXAMPLE
Ich fühle mich bei diesem Thema unwohl.
I feel uncomfortable with this topic.
Context clue
The context tells you whether physical or psychological discomfort is meant. If it is about food, illness, or the body, the physical meaning is intended. If it is about social situations, conversations, or feelings, the psychological meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Vom Geruch des Fisches wurde mir unwohl.
The smell of the fish made me feel unwell.
Compare with
unwohl vs wohl
probably / well
'wohl' and 'unwohl' are opposites when it comes to how a person feels. Someone who feels 'wohl' feels good, safe, or comfortable. Someone who feels 'unwohl' feels physically unwell or uneasy and uncomfortable in a situation. The words can be confused because they look very similar and both have to do with feelings. Pay attention to 'un-': it turns the good feeling into the opposite. 'wohl' can also mean 'probably', but that meaning does not fit the contrast with 'unwohl'.
unwohl
Nach dem langen Gespräch ist der Verkäuferin etwas unwohl.
After the long conversation, the saleswoman feels somewhat uneasy.
wohl
In der Pause fühlt sich das neue Teammitglied schon viel wohler.
During the break, the new team member already feels much more comfortable.
In real life
Loading video examples...