German Common Adjectives Vocabulary
This set covers the adjectives that hold everyday German sentences together: anders for different, extrem for extreme or very, and gewöhnlich for usual or ordinary. One trap here is überwiegend, which looks like it should mean something dramatic but actually just means predominantly or mostly, a quieter word than its length suggests.
Learn these 12 words
Spaced-repetition flashcards, straight in your browser. No sign-up, no install — the same review ladder Anki uses, on the words above.
All 12 words
- andersA2
different
Anders geht das leider nicht. — Unfortunately, it can't be done differently.
- extremB1
extreme, very
Die Prüfung war extrem schwer. — The exam was extremely difficult.
plural: die Gegenteile
opposite, contrary
Das Gegenteil von klein ist „groß“. — The opposite of light is dark.
usual, ordinary
Um die Zeit ist er gewöhnlich zu Hause. — Around that time he is usually at home.
unusual, uncommon
Ich finde diese Speise ungewöhnlich, aber sie schmeckt gut. — I find this dish unusual, but it tastes good.
grave / serious
Das ist ein gravierendes Problem. — That is a grave problem.
predominantly
Die Bevölkerung ist überwiegend zufrieden mit der Regierung. — The population is predominantly satisfied with the government.
- wendigB2
manoueverable / agile
Das kleine Boot ist sehr wendig. — The small boat is very maneuverable.
abysmal / fathomless
Sein abgrundtiefes Misstrauen zerstörte die Beziehung. — His abysmal distrust destroyed the relationship.
common / customary / usual
Das ist eine gebräuchliche Redewendung im Deutschen. — That is a common phrase in German.
- schiereC1
sheer / pure (sheer dumb luck)
Das war schiere Dummheit, so etwas zu tun. — That was sheer stupidity to do such a thing.
excellent / splendid / superb
Das war eine vortreffliche Leistung. — That was an excellent performance.
How to learn this set
Group gewöhnlich and ungewöhnlich together and drill them as a pair, since the un- prefix does the negation for you and this pattern shows up constantly in German adjectives. Keep gebräuchlich separate in your head from gewöhnlich, since mixing them up is a very common English-speaker error, one describes what's normal, the other describes what's in common use. For the C1 words like abgrundtief, vortrefflich and adäquat, learn them inside a fixed phrase rather than alone: abgrundtiefe Verachtung (abysmal contempt), vortreffliche Idee (splendid idea), so you remember not just the meaning but what kind of noun they actually attach to.
More Society & Abstract word packs
Frequently asked questions
Is gewöhnlich the opposite of ungewöhnlich?
Yes, ungewöhnlich is simply gewöhnlich with the negating prefix un-. Gewöhnlich means usual or ordinary, ungewöhnlich means unusual or remarkable. This is one of the few pairs in this set where German gives you the negative for free.
What is the difference between gewöhnlich and gebräuchlich?
Gewöhnlich describes what is normal or typical in general, as in ein gewöhnlicher Tag (an ordinary day). Gebräuchlich is narrower and means a word, method or practice is in common use, as in ein gebräuchlicher Ausdruck (a commonly used expression). You would not swap them for describing a boring afternoon.
What does das Gegenteil mean and how do you use it in a sentence?
Das Gegenteil means the opposite or contrary. It is almost always paired with von, as in das Gegenteil von schwarz ist weiß (the opposite of black is white), or used as im Gegenteil (on the contrary) to contradict something just said.
Other popular word packs
Free to start · no credit card
Words fade fast — spaced reviews make them stick.
Based on Dr. Hermann Ebbinghaus · memory science, proven since 1885