wild
Living or growing in nature and not tamed or cultivated by humans.
EXAMPLE
Im Nationalpark kann man viele wilde Tiere beobachten.
In the national park, you can observe many wild animals.
wild
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Meanings
wild
Uncontrolled, chaotic, stormy, or very loud.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Tor war der Jubel im Stadion einfach nur wild.
After the goal, the cheering in the stadium was just wild.
wild
Colloquial for great, crazy, or impressive.
EXAMPLE
Die Party gestern war echt wild, wir hatten so viel Spaß!
The party yesterday was really wild; we had so much fun!
wild
Very intense, passionate, or uninhibited.
EXAMPLE
Sie küssten sich wild und vergaßen alles um sich herum.
They kissed wildly and forgot everything around them.
wild
complete stranger
Completely unfamiliar or unknown. Used almost exclusively in the intensifier 'wildfremd' (completely unknown).
EXAMPLE
Ich kann doch keinem wildfremden Menschen einfach so mein Auto leihen.
I can't just lend my car to a complete stranger like that.
Usage tips
As an adverb
'Wild' can also be used as an adverb to describe an action. It then means 'uncontrolled', 'chaotic', or 'very intense'.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder rannten wild im Garten umher.
The children ran around wildly in the garden.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'not tamed', 'wild' is almost always used in relation to nature. Typical combinations are 'wilde Tiere' (wild animals), 'wilde Pflanzen' (wild plants), or 'wild wachsen' (to grow wild).
EXAMPLE
In diesem Wald wachsen viele wilde Kräuter.
Many wild herbs grow in this forest.
Figurative meaning
The meaning 'chaotic' or 'uncontrolled' is transferred from nature. It is often used to describe hair, parties, discussions, or even the weather.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Sturm sah der Garten ziemlich wild aus.
After the storm, the garden looked pretty wild.
Register and style
The meaning 'great' or 'crazy' is colloquial and is used especially by younger people. You would not use it in formal situations.
EXAMPLE
Das Konzert gestern war total wild!
The concert yesterday was totally wild!
Fixed combination
The meaning 'completely unfamiliar' occurs almost only in the compound adjective 'wildfremd' (completely unknown / a complete stranger). Here, 'wild' intensifies the word 'fremd' (strange, unfamiliar).
EXAMPLE
Er hat sein Geheimnis einer wildfremden Person im Zug erzählt.
He told his secret to a complete stranger on the train.
Compare with
wild vs verrückt
crazy
In colloquial language, both words can describe an unusual and intense situation. “Wild” can simply express enthusiasm or admiration, while “verrückt” places more emphasis on something strange or extreme. If something is mainly impressive, “wild” is appropriate; if it seems hardly sensible or unbelievable, “verrückt” is more appropriate.
wild
Das Konzert gestern war wild, die ganze Halle hat getanzt.
The concert yesterday was wild; the whole venue was dancing.
verrückt
Das Konzert gestern war verrückt, plötzlich spielte die Band auf dem Dach.
The concert yesterday was crazy; suddenly the band started playing on the roof.
In real life
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