giftig

Giftig is an adjective used in Germanic languages such as German, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish to describe substances or organisms that can cause harm to living beings. In these languages, giftig roughly corresponds to the English terms poisonous or toxic. The word is used in everyday warning language as well as in scientific and regulatory contexts.

In German, common expressions include giftige Substanzen (poisonous substances), giftige Pilze (poisonous mushrooms), and giftige Tiere (poisonous animals). In Swedish and Norwegian, the form giftig is used similarly, with phrases like giftiga svampar (poisonous mushrooms) and giftiga ämnen or giftige stoffer for poisonous substances. Danish uses giftig and giftige with parallel senses.

Etymology: The adjective is formed from the noun Gift, meaning poison, by means of the common adjectival suffix -ig in Germanic languages.

Usage notes: Giftig describes substances or organisms that can harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed. In technical writing, more precise terms such as toxic and venomous may be used depending on whether the harm arises from a chemical toxin or from injected venom. The term is broadly applicable to hazards in chemistry, biology, food safety, and environmental health.

See also: poisonous, toxic, venomous.