kritisch

Kritisch is an adjective used in several Germanic languages, most notably Dutch (kritisch), German (kritisch), Norwegian (kritisk), Danish (kritisk), and Swedish (kritisk). It generally translates to English as critical and can cover a range of senses, from skeptical evaluation to something decisive or essential. In everyday language, it can describe a cautious, evaluative stance (a kritische/kritisk attitude) or refer to conditions or moments that are crucial or precarious (eine kritische Situation, een kritische fase). It also appears in phrases related to analysis, such as critical thinking.

Etymology and cognates: The term derives from the Greek kritikos, meaning capable of judging, which comes from kritēs, judge. It passed into Latin as criticus and into the Germanic and Romance languages through various routes, giving rise to related words such as critic, criticism, and critique in English and other languages. In Dutch and German, the adjective preserves this core sense of judgment and appraisal, while in the broader family it often carries connotations of importance or severity.

Usage notes: The sense of kritisk/kritisch depends on context. It can express healthy skepticism, as in evaluating evidence or arguments; it can describe a demanding or stringent stance; and it may denote seriousness or danger in phrases like critical condition or critical phase. In some contexts, the word also signals urgency or decisiveness, similar to “crucial,” though exact nuance varies by language. The corresponding nouns include criticism (Dutch kritiek, German Kritik) and critical thinking (kritisch denken in Dutch, kritisch denken in German-influenced usage).

See also: critical thinking, critical theory, criticism, critical condition.