windig
windy
Characterized by strong or noticeable wind.
EXAMPLE
Heute ist es draußen ziemlich windig, du solltest eine Jacke anziehen.
It's pretty windy outside today; you should put on a jacket.
windig
windy / shady
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Meanings
windig
shady
Colloquial for a person, business, or excuse that is dubious, questionable, or untrustworthy.
EXAMPLE
Das Angebot klang zu gut, um wahr zu sein, und die ganze Firma machte einen windigen Eindruck.
The offer sounded too good to be true, and the whole company gave a shady impression.
Usage tips
Word structure
The adjective 'windig' (windy/shady) is derived from the noun 'der Wind' (the wind) with the ending '-ig'. This pattern is very common for forming adjectives from nouns (e.g., Sonne → sonnig).
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Berggipfel war es sehr windig.
It was very windy on the mountain peak.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from context. If people are talking about the weather, a place, or nature, the literal meaning is intended. If 'windig' (windy/shady) refers to a person, a business, or an explanation, the figurative, negative meaning ('unseriös' — dubious/untrustworthy) is intended.
EXAMPLE
An der Küste ist es oft windig.
It is often windy on the coast.
Typical use
In the literal meaning, 'windig' (windy) is often used in the impersonal construction 'es ist windig' (it is windy) to describe the weather.
EXAMPLE
Nimm einen Schal mit, es soll heute windig werden.
Take a scarf with you; it's supposed to get windy today.
Typical collocations
In the colloquial meaning 'unseriös' (dubious/untrustworthy), 'windig' (shady) is often combined with nouns like 'Typ' (guy), 'Geschäft' (business/deal), 'Firma' (company), or 'Ausrede' (excuse).
EXAMPLE
Er hat mir eine windige Ausrede erzählt, warum er das Geld nicht zurückzahlen kann.
He gave me a shady excuse for why he can't pay the money back.
Compare with
windig vs dubios
dubious
Windig and dubios can both describe a person or business as untrustworthy. Windig is colloquial and figurative, whereas dubios is more neutral and can also be used for questionable offers or circumstances. In casual everyday language, windig sounds appropriate; in an objective description, dubios is more suitable.
windig
Der Händler wirkt windig, deshalb kaufe ich das gebrauchte Fahrrad lieber nicht.
The dealer seems shady, so I would rather not buy the used bicycle.
dubios
Der Händler wirkt dubios, deshalb kaufe ich das gebrauchte Fahrrad lieber nicht.
The dealer seems dubious, so I would rather not buy the used bicycle.
In real life
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