zwielichtig
shady
Morally or legally untrustworthy and therefore suspicious-seeming.
EXAMPLE
Er hatte Kontakt zu einigen zwielichtigen Geschäftspartnern.
He was in contact with some shady business partners.
zwielichtig
shady / dimly lit
zwielichtig – zwielichtiger – am zwielichtigsten
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
zwielichtig
dimly lit
Having little light or being only indistinctly lit; semi-dark.
EXAMPLE
Sie gingen durch einen zwielichtigen Gang.
They walked through a dimly lit corridor.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry zwielichtig, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | zwielichtig |
|---|---|
| comparative | zwielichtiger |
| superlative | am zwielichtigsten |
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 zwielichtig.
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 zwielichtig.
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 zwielichtig.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Zwielichtig' (shady / dimly lit) is derived from 'Zwielicht' (twilight) and originally describes a situation with little or unclear light. This also gave rise to the figurative meaning for something morally or legally suspicious.
EXAMPLE
Die zwielichtige Beleuchtung machte den alten Keller noch unheimlicher.
The dim lighting made the old cellar even more eerie.
Context clue
When it refers to people, businesses, methods, or contacts, the figurative meaning is usually intended. When 'zwielichtig' (shady / dimly lit) refers to a room, place, or lighting, it describes weak or indistinct light.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei beobachtete einen zwielichtigen Mann vor dem Gebäude.
The police observed a shady man in front of the building.
Im zwielichtigen Treppenhaus konnte man die Stufen kaum erkennen.
In the dimly lit stairwell, it was almost impossible to see the steps.
Typical collocations
In its figurative meaning, 'zwielichtig' (shady) is often used with people and things that arouse suspicion, for example 'zwielichtige Gestalten' (shady characters), 'zwielichtige Geschäfte' (shady dealings), 'zwielichtige Methoden' (shady methods), or a 'zwielichtige Vergangenheit' (shady past).
EXAMPLE
Das Unternehmen geriet wegen seiner zwielichtigen Geschäftspraktiken in die Kritik.
The company came under criticism because of its shady business practices.
In real life
Loading video examples...