anstendig

Anständig is a German adjective meaning morally acceptable, proper, decent, or respectable. It is used to describe behavior, appearance, or conditions that conform to commonly accepted norms or standards. For people, one speaks of an anständige Person (a decent person) or of anständiges Verhalten (decent behavior). For objects or situations, phrases such as eine anständige Wohnung (a decent apartment) or eine anständige Bezahlung (fair/adequate pay) are common.

The sense is broadly positive, implying integrity, reliability, or suitability. In colloquial speech, anständig can also appear in ironic or gentle moderation, for example, das ist ja wirklich anständig von dir (that’s very decent of you), where the tone may be approving or lightly humorous depending on context.

Inflection follows standard German adjective grammar. Positive form: anständig; comparative: anständiger; superlative: am anständigsten. Common noun phrases include ein anständiger Mann, eine anständige Frau, das anständige Verhalten. Opposites include unanständig (indecent, improper) or unsittlich (immoral), depending on nuance.

Etymology traces to Germanic roots and the formation from prefix and stem that convey meeting a standard or being worthy. The concept is shared across closely related languages, where cognates appear with similar meanings of decency or respectability, though usage and connotations vary by language.

In usage, anständig contrasts with terms like ordentlich (neat or proper in a more practical sense) and angemessen (appropriate in a situational sense). It remains common in formal and everyday German, used to commend conduct, attire, or conditions that meet established norms of decency and integrity.