Dictionary
unheimlich
German → American English
American English
scary
Sehr stark, äußerst; oder unheimlich im Sinn von gespenstisch, unbehaglich.
Das alte Haus wirkt nachts unheimlich.Unheimlich is very common in spoken German and often means ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ as well as ‘creepy/scary’ depending on context, for example unheimlich kalt = very cold.
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Frequently asked questions
What does unheimlich mean in English?
It usually means “scary,” “creepy,” or “eerie,” but in everyday German it can also mean “very” or “extremely.”
Can unheimlich be used as an intensifier?
Yes. In spoken German, unheimlich often means “very,” as in unheimlich gut = very good.
Is unheimlich always negative?
No. It can describe something frightening, but it is also commonly used just to intensify an adjective.
How do you use unheimlich in a sentence?
You can use it before adjectives or adverbs, for example: Das Haus ist unheimlich alt. = The house is extremely old.