Schlimm

Schlimm is a German adjective meaning bad, serious, or terrible. It describes people, actions, events, or conditions and expresses a negative assessment that can vary in strength depending on context. In everyday speech it can mean "it's bad" or "that's terrible," as in "Es ist schlimm" or "Das ist eine schlimme Nachricht." It can be used predicatively ("Es ist schlimm") or attributively before a noun ("eine schlimme Nachricht," "ein schlimmes Ereignis").

The comparative form is schlimm-er and the superlative is am schlimmsten; when the sense centers on the worst aspect, one can also say "das Schlimmste" or "das Schlimme daran war …" Nominalized forms function as nouns: "das Schlimme" means "the bad thing" or "the worst part." This flexibility allows schlimm to describe everyday misfortune as well as more acute or grave situations.

Common expressions include "Schlimm genug" (bad enough) and "So schlimm wie..." (as bad as...). The word appears in formal and informal contexts and ranges from mild complaint to strong condemnation, depending on tone and surrounding language. While still conveying negativity, schlimmm is typically considered less extreme than terms like furchtbar or katastrophal, though it can be elevated for emphasis in appropriate contexts. Overall, schlimm is a native, versatile adjective integral to describing negative states and events across German-speaking regions.