Ironisch

Ironisch is an adjective used in German and Dutch to describe language, tone, or works that convey a meaning opposite to their literal words, often for humorous, critical, or satirical effect. In German the adjective is ironisch and in Dutch the same form ironisch is used; the term is typically deployed to indicate irony rather than mere sarcasm, though the line between the two can be subtle.

The concept derives from the broader idea of irony (ironie in French, ironia in Latin, eirōneía in Greek), referring to a discrepancy between appearance or stated meaning and reality. Verbal irony involves saying something that is opposite to what is meant, situational irony arises when events contradict expectations, and dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows more than a character. Ironisch usage is common in literature, journalism, theater, and everyday speech, often signaling a critique, a playful tease, or a reflective distance from the subject.

In contemporary discourse, ironisch expressions can be identified by context, tone, or contrasts between words and intended meaning, rather than explicit markers. The term also appears in discussions of comedic style, media analysis, and rhetorical study as a way to categorize communication that relies on incongruity and the reader’s or listener’s ability to recognize the underlying meaning.