Unfreundlich

Unfreundlich is a German adjective meaning not friendly. It describes people, behavior, or atmospheres that are not warm, cordial, or hospitable. It can apply to interpersonal conduct, as in “Sie war unfreundlich zu mir,” or to environmental conditions, for example “unfreundliches Wetter.” The term conveys a negative impression without specifying severity and is commonly used in everyday language as a moderate critique rather than a harsh insult.

Origin and usage: The word is formed with the prefix un- attached to freundlich (“friendly”). Its meaning is the negation of friendliness, rooted in the Germanic language tradition. The form is used across contexts to signal a lack of warmth or cordiality.

Grammar and inflection: Unfreundlich is used both attributively (ein unfreundlicher Mann) and predicatively (Der Mann ist unfreundlich). Adjective inflection follows standard German patterns, yielding forms such as unfreundlicher, unfreundliches, and unfreundliche depending on gender, case, and number.

Nuance and comparison: In everyday use, unfreundlich is usually less harsh than unhöflich (rude). Unfreundlich emphasizes a lack of warmth or cordiality, while unhöflich often concerns manners or etiquette violations.

Examples: Der Kellner war unfreundlich. Das Wetter war unfreundlich: es regnete stark und der Wind war kalt. Die Nachbarn wirkten unfreundlich, ohne etwas Böses zu sagen.

Related terms: the opposite is freundlich; a related noun is Unfreundlichkeit (unfriendliness).