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German vocabulary · Beginner

How do you say "gloomy" in German?

düster

Adjective

In German, "gloomy" is düster.

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Pronunciation

Pronounced 'DUE-ster', stress on the first syllable, with 'ü' making a rounded, pursed sound.

Grammar notes

düster is an adjective. In predicate position ("it is düster") it takes no ending; when placed before a noun, its ending changes to match the noun's gender and case.

Example sentence

Das Wetter war grau und trüb.

The weather was grey and gloomy.

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How to remember düster

Düster is close to English 'dusty' or 'duster' in sound, and both share that dim, faded feeling of gloom.

Related words

Browse all German words in the glossary.

Questions about düster

How do you say "gloomy" in German?

In German, "gloomy" is düster. It is an adjective.

How is düster used in a sentence?

Use düster as you would use the equivalent adjective in English. For example: Das Wetter war grau und trüb. (The weather was grey and gloomy.).

Where can I practice German words for free?

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"Gloomy" in other languages

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