vulgär
vulgar
Crude, obscene, and violating good manners or good taste.
EXAMPLE
Seine vulgären Witze kamen bei den Gästen überhaupt nicht gut an.
His vulgar jokes went down very badly with the guests.
vulgär
vulgar
vulgär – vulgärer – am vulgärsten
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Meanings
vulgär
vulgar
In formal or academic language: superficial and unscientifically simplified, so that the essence of something is not captured.
EXAMPLE
Die Autorin vertritt eine recht vulgäre Auffassung von Psychologie.
The author advocates a rather vulgar view of psychology.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry vulgär, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | vulgär |
|---|---|
| comparative | vulgärer |
| superlative | am vulgärsten |
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 vulgär.
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 vulgär.
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 vulgär.
Usage tips
Strong evaluation
'Vulgär' (vulgar) is a strongly evaluative adjective and usually expresses clear disapproval. It describes more than just a quality; it often also conveys the speaker's negative assessment.
EXAMPLE
Die Redaktion kritisierte den vulgären Ton des Beitrags.
The editors criticized the article's vulgar tone.
Typical collocations
In the sense of 'derb oder ordinär' (crude or obscene), 'vulgär' (vulgar) often occurs with words such as 'Witz' (joke), 'Verhalten' (behavior), 'Geschmack' (taste), or 'Sprache' (language).
EXAMPLE
Sein vulgäres Verhalten führte zum Streit mit den anderen Gästen.
His vulgar behavior led to an argument with the other guests.
Formal usage
In this sense, 'vulgär' (vulgar) criticizes an idea or theory for being simplified in a superficial and unscientific way. Typical collocations include 'vulgärer Materialismus' (vulgar materialism) and 'eine vulgäre Darstellung' (a vulgar presentation); this meaning has nothing to do with offensive language.
EXAMPLE
Der Professor warf dem Lehrbuch eine vulgäre Darstellung der Evolutionstheorie vor.
The professor accused the textbook of presenting the theory of evolution in a vulgarized way.
In real life
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