Niedrig

Niedrig is a German adjective and, less commonly, an adverb meaning low, lowly, or humble. It describes something that is not high in height, amount, value, degree, or status. The term is used in physical descriptions (niedrige Höhe, niedriges Fahrzeug), in economic contexts (niedriges Einkommen, niedriger Preis), and in social or qualitative judgments (niedrige Erwartungen, eine demütige Haltung).

Grammatical notes: Like many German adjectives, niedrig is declined according to gender, case, and number, and its endings also depend on whether the definite or indefinite article is present. Examples: der niedrige Berg, ein niedriger Preis, das niedrige Niveau; plural die niedrigen Berge, niedrige Preise. The comparative form is niedriger and the superlative am niedrigsten or der niedrigste (depending on syntactic role).

Usage and nuance: Niedrig often conveys a contrast to a higher reference point or standard, and can carry neutral or slightly pejorative connotations depending on context. It is typically used for measurable levels such as height, temperature, price, wage, or performance. In semantics, it is common to distinguish it from tief (deep or profound) when referring to spatial depth or intensity; niedrig emphasizes horizontal level, quantity, or rank.

Common compounds and phrases: Niedriglohn (low wage), Niedrigpreis (low price), Niedrigtemperatur (low temperature), and the term Niedriglohnsektor (low-wage sector) are widely used in economics and marketing. Etymologically, niedrig originates from Germanic roots for low and has cognates in other Germanic languages.

In summary, niedrig is a versatile descriptor for low height, amount, or status, with standard German inflection patterns and frequent usage in economic, scientific, and everyday language.