unechte

Unechte is a German adjective describing something that is not genuine or counterfeit. It is formed with the negation prefix un- attached to echt, the word for genuine. The term is used to characterize objects, documents, performances, or claims that do not originate from the claimed source or do not meet standards of authenticity. It appears in everyday language as well as in more formal contexts such as art, antiques, fashion, and consumer protection.

As an attributive adjective, unecht is inflected according to gender, number, and case. Typical usages include phrases like eine unechte Münze (a fake coin), das unechte Gemälde (the fake painting), or unechte Behauptungen (false claims). In the plural, one speaks of unechte Münzen, unechte Uhren, and similar constructions for other nouns. The base form unecht is sometimes used on its own in more general statements, but the inflected forms are common in natural language.

The related noun Unechtheit denotes the state or quality of being not genuine, for example: Die Unechtheit des Gemäldes wurde durch Experten bestätigt. In practice, the concept intersects with Fälschung (forgery), Betrug (deception), and authenticity verification. In museums, auctions, and retail, items may be labeled as unecht following provenance checks or scientific testing to determine authenticity.

See also: Echtheit, Fälschung, Authentizität, Provenienz.