Traurig

Traurig is a German adjective meaning feeling sorrow or sadness, or something that causes such feelings. It is used to describe a person’s emotional state as well as events, situations, or objects that evoke sadness. For example, eine traurige Nachricht (a sad message) or er sieht traurig aus (he looks sad). The adverbial use is also common in spoken German: er wirkt traurig, sie singt traurig (she sings sadly).

Etymology: The term derives from Old High German trūrīg meaning sorrowful, which is related to other Germanic languages through a common Proto-Germanic root for sorrow. Cognates appear in Dutch droevig and other Germanic languages, reflecting a shared heritage. The modern form traurig is inflected for gender and number like other adjectives (e.g., eine traurige Geschichte, trauriger Mensch; es ist traurig).

Noun forms and related terms: The corresponding abstract noun is Traurigkeit (sadness). Trauer is another related noun more commonly used for mourning or grief that endures beyond a single feeling. The adjective can also describe more general kinds of melancholy or somber atmospheres, such as traurige Musik or eine traurige Stimmung, though it is distinct from clinical terms.

Usage and nuance: In everyday German, traurig denotes a temporary emotional state rather than a clinical condition. It appears in journalism, fiction and conversation to convey sympathy, lament, or an unfavorable mood, without specifying causes. Synonyms include betrübt and trübe; related antonyms include fröhlich and glücklich.