gestörte

Gestörte is a German term that stems from the participle gestört of the verb stören (to disturb, disrupt). It functions in language as both an adjective and, less commonly, as a noun, with nuances that depend on context and inflection.

As an adjective, gestört describes something that is disturbed, disrupted, or not functioning normally. It is used in a wide range of contexts, from technical descriptions such as gestörte Funktionen (disturbed functions) to behavioral or psychological phrasing like gestörtes Verhalten (disturbed behavior). When used attributively, it follows standard gender and case endings, for example eine gestörte Person (a disturbed person). Predicative use, as in Sie ist gestört (She is disturbed), conveys a mental or behavioral deviation but can carry stigmatizing overtones.

As a noun, der Gestörte (masculine) or die Gestörte (feminine) can refer to a person perceived as disturbed or mentally ill. The plural form is typically die Gestörten. This noun usage is considered pejorative or stigmatizing in many contemporary contexts and is often avoided in respectful or clinical language, where terms like psychisch gesund/krank or Person mit psychischen Problemen are preferred.

Etymology and connotations: gestört is formed with the prefix ge-, and the meaning has broadened from “disrupted” to include mental or behavioral disturbance in colloquial speech. Therefore, usage requires sensitivity to context to avoid reinforcing stigma.

In summary, gestörte is a flexible term whose acceptability depends on usage, with a strong potential for offense in reference to people.