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A1 noun #1,154 am häufigsten 11 Min. Lesezeit

awful

Top 1,154

At the A1 level, 'awful' is one of the first 'strong' words you learn to describe things you don't like. It is much stronger than 'bad.' You use it for simple things in your daily life. For example, if you eat food that tastes very bad, you can say, 'This food is awful.' If the weather is raining and cold, you can say, 'The weather is awful.' It is a very useful word because it helps you show your feelings clearly. You don't need many other words to explain; 'awful' says it all. At this level, you should focus on using it with the verb 'to be' (is/are/was/were). For example: 'My cold is awful' or 'The movie was awful.' It is important to remember that 'awful' is for things that make you feel unhappy or uncomfortable. You can also use it to say sorry in a strong way: 'I feel awful' means you are very sorry or you feel sick. It is a 'big' word for a beginner, so using it correctly will make your English sound more natural. Just remember to use it for things that are really, really bad, not just a little bit bad. If you lose your pen, it's 'bad.' If you lose your phone, it's 'awful.' This helps you understand the scale of the word. Practice saying it with a strong voice to show you really mean it. It is a very common word in English-speaking countries, so you will hear it a lot in cartoons, simple stories, and daily conversations. It is a foundational word for expressing negative opinions.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'awful' in more varied sentence structures. You might start using it before a noun, like 'an awful day' or 'an awful noise.' You also learn that 'awful' can describe how you feel physically or emotionally. If you have a very bad headache, you have an 'awful headache.' If you are very sad about something, you 'feel awful.' At this level, you should also be careful not to confuse 'awful' with 'awesome.' 'Awesome' is for things that are very good, like a great party. 'Awful' is for things that are very bad. You can also start to use 'awful' to respond to other people's bad news. If a friend says they lost their keys, you can say, 'Oh, that's awful!' This shows you are a good listener and you care about their feelings. You will also notice 'awful' being used in simple stories to describe villains or bad situations. It is a step up from 'bad' and 'sad.' You might also hear the phrase 'an awful lot of,' which means 'a lot of.' For example, 'I have an awful lot of homework.' This is a special way to use the word that isn't necessarily negative, but it shows that there is a very large amount of something. Understanding this will help you follow more complex conversations. Practice using 'awful' to describe your weekend if it didn't go well, or a meal that you didn't enjoy. It's a great word for adding more emotion to your speaking and writing.

As a B1 learner, you can use 'awful' to add emphasis and nuance to your descriptions. You understand that 'awful' is an extreme adjective, so you know that 'very awful' is usually avoided by native speakers. Instead, you might use 'absolutely awful' or 'truly awful' to make your point. You can use 'awful' to describe social situations, such as an 'awful silence' or an 'awful misunderstanding.' This shows a deeper understanding of how the word can describe abstract concepts, not just physical things like food or weather. You are also becoming more aware of the adverb 'awfully.' While it can mean 'in an awful way,' it is often used as an intensifier meaning 'very,' especially in British English. For example, 'I'm awfully sorry' or 'That's awfully kind of you.' Recognizing this shift in meaning is key at the B1 level. You can also use 'awful' in the 'awful lot' construction more confidently. In your writing, you can use 'awful' to set a mood or tone. For example, 'The house had an awful atmosphere' tells the reader immediately that the place is unpleasant or scary. You are also starting to compare 'awful' with other words like 'terrible' or 'dreadful.' You might choose 'awful' when you want to focus on the personal, unpleasant feeling something gives you. It is a versatile tool for storytelling and for expressing more complex personal opinions in discussions. You should be able to use it in both the past and present tense to describe experiences and ongoing situations.

At the B2 level, you should be able to use 'awful' with precision and understand its impact on the 'register' of your speech. You know that 'awful' is quite informal and emotive, so you might choose a different word in a professional or academic setting. However, in a business meeting, you might still use it to describe a 'result' or a 'situation' to show strong concern. You are also familiar with the historical context of the word—how it shifted from 'awe-inspiring' to 'very bad'—which helps you understand older literature. You can use 'awful' to express irony or sarcasm. For example, if someone is being slightly annoying, you might say, 'Oh, you're just awful!' in a joking way. This requires a good grasp of tone and context. You also understand collocations like 'awful truth' or 'awful warning.' These are set phrases where 'awful' has a specific, traditional meaning. At B2, you should also be able to use the word to describe complex moral or ethical situations. 'An awful decision' might not just mean a bad one, but one that was very difficult to make and had negative consequences. You are also more adept at using 'awfully' as an intensifier in various contexts. Your ability to distinguish between 'awful' and its synonyms like 'atrocious' or 'abysmal' is improving, allowing you to choose the word that fits the exact level of negativity you want to convey. You can use 'awful' to provide vivid detail in narrative essays or to express strong conviction in persuasive speaking.

For C1 learners, 'awful' is a word you use with complete mastery of its emotional and social weight. You understand the subtle differences between 'awful,' 'dreadful,' 'ghastly,' and 'horrendous.' You might use 'awful' when the unpleasantness is subjective or personal, whereas you might use 'horrendous' for something that is objectively shocking. You are also aware of the word's use in different dialects of English. You know that in some Southern US dialects, 'awful' can be used as an adverb ('He's awful tall'), though you know this is non-standard. You can analyze the use of 'awful' in literature, noting how an author might use it to evoke a specific era or social class. You are also comfortable with the substantive use of the adjective in rare, poetic contexts. In high-level discussions, you can use 'awful' to dismiss an argument or to highlight a critical flaw in a plan with rhetorical force. You understand that the word's power comes from its simplicity and its visceral impact. You can also use 'awfully' as a sophisticated intensifier in formal-informal hybrid situations, like a high-end social gathering. Your use of 'awful' is no longer just about describing something 'bad'; it's about managing the emotional temperature of a conversation. You can use it to build rapport through shared complaining or to set a boundary by expressing strong disapproval. You are also aware of the 'awe' root and can use that knowledge to appreciate puns or wordplay in sophisticated media.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native or native-like grasp of 'awful.' You use it instinctively and can play with its meanings. You are fully aware of its etymological journey and can recognize its archaic 'awe-inspiring' meaning in texts like the King James Bible or Romantic poetry without confusion. You understand the 'awful lot' construction as a grammaticalized intensifier and use it naturally in speech. You can use 'awful' to navigate complex social hierarchies, knowing exactly when it sounds empathetic and when it sounds hyperbolic. You are also sensitive to the 'prosody' of the word—how the way you say it (the length of the 'aw' sound, the sharpness of the 'f') changes its meaning from a mild complaint to a cry of despair. In professional writing, you know exactly when to avoid it in favor of more clinical terms, and when to use it for maximum emotional impact in a speech or a piece of creative non-fiction. You can identify the use of 'awful' as a 'filler' word in certain dialects and understand how it contributes to the rhythm of speech. You are also capable of using 'awful' in highly specific collocations that might be obscure to lower-level learners, such as 'the awful majesty of the law.' Your command of the word is such that you can use it to convey a wide range of emotions, from genuine horror to lighthearted teasing, all while maintaining perfect control over the context and the listener's perception.

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

awful in 30 Sekunden

Awful is a strong adjective used to describe things that are very bad, unpleasant, or of low quality, such as weather, food, or feelings.
It is an extreme adjective, meaning it is stronger than 'bad' and usually pairs with intensifiers like 'absolutely' rather than 'very' in formal speech.
The word can also be used as an intensifier in phrases like 'an awful lot,' which simply means a very large amount of something.
Historically, it meant 'full of awe,' but today it is almost always negative, except in rare literary or archaic contexts describing majesty.

The word awful is a primary adjective in the English language used to describe things that are of extremely low quality, highly unpleasant, or deeply distressing. While the word originally meant 'full of awe' or 'inspiring wonder' in the 13th century, its meaning has shifted dramatically over the centuries to its current negative connotation. In modern usage, when someone says a situation is awful, they are expressing a strong sense of dislike or disapproval. It is considered an 'extreme adjective,' meaning it already contains the idea of 'very' within its definition. Therefore, native speakers rarely say 'very awful' and instead prefer 'absolutely awful' or simply 'awful.' This word is ubiquitous in daily life, appearing in conversations about everything from the weather and food to personal health and global events. It serves as a powerful tool for expressing emotional reactions to negative stimuli.

Semantic Range: The word covers a spectrum from minor inconveniences, like an awful cup of coffee, to major tragedies, such as an awful accident. Its versatility makes it one of the first adjectives English learners acquire to express negativity.

The weather during our vacation was absolutely awful, with rain every single day.

Emotional Weight: Using this word conveys a subjective feeling of discomfort. It is less clinical than 'poor' and more emotive than 'bad.' It signals to the listener that the speaker is genuinely bothered by the subject at hand.

I feel awful about forgetting your birthday; please forgive me.

The traffic this morning was awful, making me late for the meeting.

Social Context: In social settings, 'awful' is often used to build empathy. When someone shares bad news, responding with 'That is awful' shows that you understand their pain or frustration.

The service at that restaurant was awful, so we won't be going back.

He had an awful headache that lasted all afternoon.

Understanding the nuances of 'awful' involves recognizing that it is more than just a synonym for 'bad.' It carries a weight of personal experience. When a child says a vegetable tastes awful, they are expressing a visceral reaction. When a news anchor describes an awful storm, they are highlighting the severity and the human impact. The word is a bridge between simple description and emotional expression. It is important to note that while the user defined it as a noun, in 99.9% of contexts, 'awful' functions as an adjective. The noun form would be 'awfulness,' though 'awful' can occasionally be used substantively in poetic contexts ('the awful of the void'), this is extremely rare and not recommended for standard communication. In summary, use 'awful' when 'bad' just isn't strong enough to describe how unpleasant something truly is.

Using 'awful' correctly requires an understanding of its role as an extreme adjective. Because it is non-gradable in its most common sense, it pairs best with intensifiers like 'absolutely,' 'completely,' or 'totally' rather than 'very.' However, in casual speech, people do occasionally say 'very awful,' though it sounds slightly redundant to a native ear. The word can be used both before a noun (attributive position) and after a linking verb like 'be,' 'feel,' or 'look' (predicative position). For example, 'The awful news' (attributive) and 'The news was awful' (predicative).

Attributive Use: When placed before a noun, 'awful' modifies the object directly. This is common when describing physical things or specific events.

There was an awful smell coming from the old refrigerator.

Predicative Use: When following a verb like 'to be' or 'to feel,' it describes the subject's state or the speaker's perception of the subject.

I feel awful about what happened at the party last night.

The movie we watched was awful; the acting was terrible and the plot made no sense.

The 'Awful Lot' Construction: This is a common idiomatic use where 'awful' acts as an adverbial modifier to mean 'very' or 'large.' It is almost always used with 'lot' or 'many.'

That car costs an awful lot of money for such an old model.

She has an awful lot of work to finish before the deadline tomorrow.

In sentence construction, 'awful' is a 'loud' word. It draws attention to the negativity of the noun it modifies. If you want to be subtle, 'awful' is the wrong choice. If you want to be clear and emphatic, it is perfect. For example, 'The food was bad' is a simple statement of fact. 'The food was awful' is a complaint. Learners should also be careful with the word 'awesome,' which sounds similar but means the exact opposite (very good). This confusion is a common pitfall for beginners. When practicing, try to replace 'bad' with 'awful' in your mind and see if the sentence feels more expressive. If you are describing a tragedy, 'awful' provides the necessary gravity. If you are describing a minor annoyance, 'awful' provides the necessary hyperbole for dramatic effect.

You will hear the word 'awful' in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from the most mundane daily interactions to high-stakes news reporting. In the domestic sphere, it is frequently used to describe physical sensations or household mishaps. For instance, a parent might tell a child, 'That's an awful mess you've made,' or a spouse might say, 'I have an awful headache.' In these cases, the word is used to emphasize the degree of the problem.

Customer Service and Reviews: In the world of commerce, 'awful' is a staple of negative feedback. Online reviews for hotels, restaurants, and products are filled with the word.

The customer service was awful; they ignored me for twenty minutes.

News and Media: Journalists use 'awful' to describe the aftermath of natural disasters, crimes, or accidents. It helps convey the human tragedy of the event.

Witnesses described the scene of the crash as truly awful.

It was an awful mistake to trust him with the secret.

Workplace Communication: While formal reports might avoid it, colleagues often use 'awful' in the breakroom to vent about work. 'The new software is awful' is a common sentiment.

The timing of the layoff was awful, coming right before the holidays.

The smell in the locker room was awful after the game.

In the UK, you might hear 'awfully' used as a polite intensifier, such as 'I'm awfully sorry.' This is a marker of a certain social register, often perceived as more formal or upper-class. In the US, 'awful' is more likely to be used in its literal sense of 'very bad.' Regardless of the dialect, 'awful' is a word that signals an emotional reaction. It is rarely used neutrally. When you hear it, the speaker is usually looking for agreement or sympathy. It is a social lubricant for shared dissatisfaction. Whether it's a student complaining about an awful exam or a driver complaining about awful traffic, the word serves to bond people over a shared negative experience. In literature, 'awful' can still sometimes carry its older meaning of 'inspiring awe,' especially in 19th-century novels or religious texts, but in modern spoken English, it is 100% negative.

One of the most frequent mistakes English learners make with 'awful' is confusing it with its phonetic cousin, 'awesome.' While they share the same root—'awe'—their meanings have diverged to opposite ends of the spectrum. 'Awesome' is very good, while 'awful' is very bad. Using one when you mean the other can lead to significant misunderstandings, especially in emotional contexts. Another common error is the use of 'very' with 'awful.' As mentioned previously, 'awful' is an extreme adjective. Grammatically, extreme adjectives do not usually take 'very.' Instead of 'very awful,' you should use 'absolutely awful' or 'really awful.'

Confusion with Awesome: Learners often mix these up because they both start with 'awe.' Remember: 'some' is good, 'ful' is bad (in this specific case).

Incorrect: The concert was awful! I loved every minute! (Should be 'awesome')

Gradability Errors: Avoid saying 'more awful' or 'most awful.' Instead, use 'worse' or 'the worst,' or use intensifiers like 'even more' with a different adjective.

Incorrect: This is the most awful day of my life. (Grammatically acceptable but 'worst' is more natural)

I had an awful dream last night. (Here it means unpleasant, not necessarily terrifying).

Overuse: Using 'awful' for everything can make your English sound repetitive. Try to vary your vocabulary with words like 'dreadful,' 'terrible,' or 'horrible.'

The news was awful, but the way they handled it was even worse.

The service was awful, and the food was cold.

Lastly, be aware of the spelling. Many learners add an extra 'e' (aweful), but the correct spelling drops the 'e' from 'awe.' This is a common spelling trap. Also, remember that 'awfully' as an adverb can sometimes mean 'very' in a positive or neutral way ('awfully nice'), but 'awful' as an adjective is almost never positive. Understanding these subtle distinctions will help you use the word with the precision of a native speaker. Avoid using it in formal essays where objective language is required; 'awful' is too subjective for a scientific report or a legal document. Instead, use 'significant,' 'severe,' or 'adverse.' By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can ensure that your use of 'awful' is always appropriate and effective.

While 'awful' is a great word, having a variety of synonyms allows you to be more precise in your descriptions. Depending on the context, you might choose a word that emphasizes fear, poor quality, or moral wrongness. 'Terrible' and 'horrible' are the closest synonyms and are often interchangeable with 'awful.' However, 'terrible' often carries a slightly stronger sense of dread, while 'horrible' can imply something that causes physical revulsion.

Terrible vs. Awful: 'Terrible' is often used for events that cause great fear or distress. 'Awful' is more common for general unpleasantness.

The earthquake was a terrible tragedy for the whole country.

Dreadful: This word is slightly more formal and is often used to describe things that are extremely boring or of very poor quality.

The play was dreadful; half the audience left before the second act.

The weather was atrocious, with gale-force winds and driving rain.

Abysmal: This is a very strong word used to describe something that is as bad as it can possibly be, often used for standards or performance.

The team's performance this season has been abysmal, with ten losses in a row.

The soup had an awful aftertaste that lingered for hours.

Other alternatives include 'ghastly' (often used for appearances or news), 'vile' (for things that are morally or physically disgusting), and 'lousy' (very informal, common in US English). Choosing the right alternative depends on the level of formality and the specific nature of the 'badness' you are describing. For example, 'The service was lousy' is fine for a chat with a friend, but 'The service was substandard' is better for a formal complaint. 'The news was ghastly' suggests something shocking and bloody, whereas 'The news was awful' is more general. By expanding your range of negative adjectives, you can provide more color and detail to your descriptions, making your English sound more natural and sophisticated. Remember that 'awful' is your 'go-to' word, but these alternatives are the tools that allow you to fine-tune your message.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

Neutral

Informell

Child friendly

Umgangssprache

Wusstest du?

Until the 1800s, 'awful' could still be used to describe something magnificent. It wasn't until the late 19th century that it became almost exclusively negative.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈɔː.fəl/

US /ˈɑː.fəl/

The stress is on the first syllable: AW-ful.

Reimt sich auf

lawful waffle (near rhyme) offal unlawful drawful (rare) jawful pawful sawful

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing it like 'a-full' with two equal syllables.
Confusing the 'aw' sound with 'ow' (as in 'how').
Adding an 'e' sound in the middle (awe-ful).
Making the 'l' too clear; it should be a soft 'uhl' sound.
Over-emphasizing the 'f' sound.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text.

Schreiben 2/5

Easy to use, but watch the spelling (no 'e').

Sprechen 1/5

Commonly used in daily speech.

Hören 1/5

Clearly pronounced and common.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

bad sad very good like

Als Nächstes lernen

terrible horrible dreadful awesome disgusting

Fortgeschritten

abysmal atrocious ghastly horrendous vile

Wichtige Grammatik

Extreme Adjectives

Use 'absolutely awful' instead of 'very awful'.

Attributive Adjectives

An awful day (adjective before noun).

Predicative Adjectives

The day was awful (adjective after verb).

Adverb Formation

Awful becomes awfully.

Intensifiers

An awful lot of people (using awful to mean 'many').

Beispiele nach Niveau

The pizza was awful.

La pizza était affreuse.

Subject + was + adjective.

I have an awful cold.

J'ai un rhume affreux.

Adjective before a noun.

The weather is awful today.

Le temps est affreux aujourd'hui.

Using 'is' to describe the current state.

That movie was awful.

Ce film était affreux.

Past tense 'was' for a completed experience.

I feel awful about the mess.

Je me sens mal à propos du désordre.

'Feel' + adjective to express emotion.

The smell is awful.

L'odeur est affreuse.

Simple descriptive sentence.

It was an awful day.

C'était une journée affreuse.

Indefinite article 'an' before 'awful'.

My shoes are awful.

Mes chaussures sont affreuses.

Plural subject 'shoes' with 'are'.

I'm so sorry, that's awful news.

Je suis tellement désolé, c'est une nouvelle affreuse.

Using 'awful' to show empathy.

He made an awful mistake at work.

Il a fait une erreur affreuse au travail.

Common collocation: 'make an awful mistake'.

The coffee tastes awful without sugar.

Le café a un goût affreux sans sucre.

Linking verb 'tastes' + adjective.

There is an awful lot of traffic.

Il y a énormément de circulation.

Idiomatic use: 'an awful lot of' means 'a lot of'.

I had an awful dream last night.

J'ai fait un cauchemar affreux la nuit dernière.

Describing a subjective experience.

The hotel room was awful and dirty.

La chambre d'hôtel était affreuse et sale.

Using two adjectives to give more detail.

She has an awful headache.

Elle a un mal de tête affreux.

Describing physical pain.

The train was late, which was awful.

Le train était en retard, ce qui était affreux.

Relative clause 'which was awful'.

The silence in the room was awful.

Le silence dans la pièce était pesant.

Describing an atmosphere.

I'm awfully sorry for the delay.

Je suis terriblement désolé pour le retard.

Adverb 'awfully' used as an intensifier.

It took an awful lot of courage to speak.

Il a fallu énormément de courage pour parler.

'An awful lot of' used with an abstract noun.

The conditions in the camp were awful.

Les conditions dans le camp étaient affreuses.

Describing living conditions.

He looks awful; is he sick?

Il a une mine affreuse ; est-il malade ?

Linking verb 'looks' to describe appearance.

That was an awful thing to say to her.

C'était une chose affreuse à lui dire.

Evaluating behavior.

I have an awful feeling that we are lost.

J'ai l'impression affreuse que nous sommes perdus.

Describing an intuition or 'gut feeling'.

The service was absolutely awful.

Le service était absolument affreux.

Using 'absolutely' with an extreme adjective.

The company suffered an awful loss this year.

L'entreprise a subi une perte terrible cette année.

Describing financial or professional failure.

It was an awful realization for him.

Ce fut une prise de conscience terrible pour lui.

Describing a mental state.

The consequences of the policy were awful.

Les conséquences de la politique étaient désastreuses.

Describing the impact of a decision.

She was awfully kind to help us.

Elle a été extrêmement gentille de nous aider.

'Awfully' used in a positive, polite sense (British English).

There's an awful truth we must face.

Il y a une vérité terrible que nous devons affronter.

Collocation: 'awful truth'.

The noise was an awful distraction.

Le bruit était une distraction insupportable.

Using 'awful' to describe a nuisance.

He spent an awful lot of time on that project.

Il a passé énormément de temps sur ce projet.

Emphasizing the quantity of time.

The weather was awful, yet they continued.

Le temps était affreux, pourtant ils ont continué.

Using 'awful' in a contrastive sentence.

The sheer awfulness of the situation was overwhelming.

L'horreur pure de la situation était accablante.

Noun form 'awfulness'.

He was an awful bore at the dinner party.

C'était un raseur fini au dîner.

Using 'awful' to describe a personality trait.

The play was an awful failure, despite the hype.

La pièce a été un échec retentissant, malgré le battage médiatique.

Emphasizing the scale of a failure.

It is awfully difficult to maintain neutrality.

Il est extrêmement difficile de rester neutre.

'Awfully' as an intensifier for an adjective.

The smell was awful, a mix of rot and damp.

L'odeur était affreuse, un mélange de pourriture et d'humidité.

Providing descriptive detail after the adjective.

They faced an awful dilemma.

Ils étaient confrontés à un terrible dilemme.

Collocation: 'awful dilemma'.

The news was greeted with an awful silence.

La nouvelle a été accueillie par un silence de mort.

Using 'awful' to describe a collective reaction.

He has an awful lot to answer for.

Il a beaucoup de comptes à rendre.

Idiomatic expression for responsibility.

The awful majesty of the mountain range humbled us.

La majesté imposante de la chaîne de montagnes nous a rendus humbles.

Archaic/Literary use: 'awful' meaning 'inspiring awe'.

There is an awful beauty in the desert landscape.

Il y a une beauté terrifiante dans le paysage désertique.

Oxymoron: 'awful beauty'.

The decision carried an awful weight of responsibility.

La décision portait un poids de responsabilité écrasant.

Metaphorical use of 'awful weight'.

He spoke with an awful solemnity.

Il a parlé avec une solennité impressionnante.

Describing the manner of speaking.

The 'awful' in the poem refers to divine power.

Le mot 'awful' dans le poème fait référence au pouvoir divin.

Metalinguistic use of the word.

The silence was awful, pregnant with unspoken threats.

Le silence était terrible, lourd de menaces non dites.

Using 'awful' with a complex modifier.

It was an awfully near thing, but we made it.

C'était de justesse, mais nous avons réussi.

Idiom: 'an awfully near thing' (a close call).

The awfulness of the crime shocked the nation.

L'atrocité du crime a choqué la nation.

Abstract noun 'awfulness' in a formal context.

Synonyme

terrible horrible dreadful bad unpleasant poor

Gegenteile

wonderful excellent great

Häufige Kollokationen

awful lot

awful headache

awful weather

awful news

feel awful

awful smell

awful mistake

awful truth

awful silence

look awful

Häufige Phrasen

That's awful!

An awful lot of...

Feel awful for someone

An awful long time

Something awful

The awful thing is...

Look awful

Sound awful

Awful mess

Awful lot more

Wird oft verwechselt mit

awful vs awesome

Awesome means very good; awful means very bad. They are opposites.

awful vs awfully

Awfully is an adverb that often means 'very' (positive or negative), while awful is an adjective.

awful vs offal

Offal (organ meats) sounds similar but is a noun with a completely different meaning.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"God-awful"

An emphatic, slightly vulgar way to say something is extremely unpleasant.

The music next door was God-awful.

informal

"An awful near thing"

A situation where something bad almost happened; a close shave.

It was an awful near thing, but the car stopped in time.

informal/dated

"Feel awful about (something)"

To experience deep regret or guilt.

I feel awful about forgetting our anniversary.

neutral

"Awful truth"

A painful or unpleasant reality that cannot be ignored.

He had to face the awful truth that his business was failing.

neutral

"Awful lot of trouble"

A significant amount of difficulty or effort.

It's an awful lot of trouble to move house.

neutral

"Awful quiet"

Suspiciously or unusually silent.

It's awful quiet in the house; what are the kids doing?

informal

"An awful lot to ask"

A request that is considered too much or too difficult.

Asking him to work on Sunday is an awful lot to ask.

neutral

"Awful lot of good"

Often used sarcastically to mean no good at all.

That advice did me an awful lot of good! (Meaning: it didn't help).

informal

"Awful lot of nothing"

A large amount of effort or talk that results in nothing.

They talked for hours but said an awful lot of nothing.

informal

"Awful lot like"

Very similar to something else, often in a suspicious way.

This situation looks an awful lot like a scam.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

awful vs awesome

They share the same root 'awe.'

Awesome is positive (inspiring admiration), while awful is negative (inspiring dislike).

The fireworks were awesome, but the traffic home was awful.

awful vs terrible

They are synonyms.

Terrible often implies fear or dread, while awful is more general unpleasantness.

He had a terrible accident and an awful recovery.

awful vs horrible

They are synonyms.

Horrible often suggests something that causes horror or physical disgust.

The movie was awful, but the murder scene was horrible.

awful vs dreadful

They are synonyms.

Dreadful is more common in British English and can mean extremely boring.

The lecture was dreadful; I almost fell asleep.

awful vs awfully

It is the adverb form.

Awfully is often used as a synonym for 'very' in a polite way.

She is awfully talented (very talented).

Satzmuster

The [noun] is awful.

The food is awful.

I feel awful.

I feel awful today.

That's an awful [noun].

That's an awful mess.

An awful lot of [noun].

An awful lot of rain.

It was an awful thing to [verb].

It was an awful thing to say.

I'm awfully [adjective].

I'm awfully sorry.

The awful truth is [clause].

The awful truth is that we failed.

The sheer awfulness of [noun].

The sheer awfulness of the crime.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Adjektive

Verwandt

So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely common in spoken and written English.

Häufige Fehler

I had an aweful day. → I had an awful day.
The word 'awful' does not contain an 'e.'
The party was very awful. → The party was absolutely awful.
Awful is an extreme adjective and usually takes 'absolutely' or 'really.'
That's awesome news! (when hearing about a death) → That's awful news!
Confusing 'awesome' (good) with 'awful' (bad) can be very offensive.
He is an awful lot tall. → He is awfully tall.
Use the adverb 'awfully' to modify an adjective, not the phrase 'an awful lot.'
The food tasted awfully. → The food tasted awful.
After linking verbs like 'taste,' 'smell,' or 'feel,' use the adjective, not the adverb.

Tipps

Use for Empathy

When someone shares a problem, say 'That's awful' to show you care. It is a very common social response.

Extreme Adjective

Pair 'awful' with 'absolutely' instead of 'very' to sound more like a native speaker.

Drop the E

Remember to drop the 'e' from 'awe' when writing 'awful.' It's A-W-F-U-L.

Avoid Overuse

If you find yourself saying 'awful' too much, try 'terrible,' 'horrible,' or 'dreadful' for variety.

Awful Lot

Stress the Start

Always put the emphasis on the first part: AW-ful. The second part should be very short.

Be Specific

In writing, instead of 'awful smell,' try 'stink' or 'stench.' Instead of 'awful weather,' try 'stormy' or 'frigid.'

Tone Matters

The way you say 'awful' can change it from a small complaint to a serious statement of grief.

Opposite Check

Always double-check if you mean 'awesome' (good) or 'awful' (bad) before you speak!

Formal Alternatives

In a business email, use 'unfortunate' or 'concerning' instead of 'awful.'

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Awe' + 'Full'. If you are 'full of awe' because something is so bad it shocks you, it's 'awful.'

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a plate of 'awful' food with green smoke coming off it and a person making a disgusted face.

Word Web

Bad Unpleasant Sick Weather Mistake Smell News Traffic

Herausforderung

Try to use 'awful' three times today: once for the weather, once for a feeling, and once for a quality.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Old English word 'egefull,' which combined 'ege' (awe/fear) and 'full' (full of). It originally meant 'inspiring fear or dread.'

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Full of awe; inspiring wonder or profound respect, often mixed with fear.

Germanic (Old English)

Kultureller Kontext

Generally safe to use, but can be hyperbolic. Be careful not to use it for minor things when speaking to someone who has experienced a real tragedy.

Used universally to express strong negative opinions or empathy.

The Awful Truth (1937 film) The Awful Dr. Orloff (horror film) Various poems by Emily Dickinson use 'awful' in its older sense.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Weather

Awful rain
Awful storm
Awful heat
Awful cold

Health

Feel awful
Awful headache
Awful cough
Look awful

Social

Awful news
Awful mistake
Awful thing to say
Awful silence

Quality

Awful service
Awful food
Awful movie
Awful performance

Quantity

Awful lot of money
Awful lot of time
Awful lot of people
Awful lot of work

Gesprächseinstiege

"Have you ever had an awful experience at a restaurant?"

"What is the most awful movie you have ever seen?"

"Do you think the weather today is awful or just okay?"

"How do you feel when you have to deliver awful news?"

"Is there an awful lot of work on your plate right now?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe an awful day you had recently and how you turned it around.

Write about a time you felt awful for someone else. What happened?

What is something that tastes awful to you but others seem to like?

Reflect on an awful mistake you made and what you learned from it.

Imagine an awful world where everything is the opposite of what you like.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, 'awful' is primarily an adjective. The noun form is 'awfulness.' While it can be used substantively in very rare poetic contexts, you should use it as an adjective in 99.9% of situations.

It is better to say 'absolutely awful' because 'awful' is an extreme adjective. Native speakers find 'very awful' slightly redundant, though it is understood.

'Awful' is much stronger than 'bad.' If something is 'bad,' it is not good. If it is 'awful,' it is extremely unpleasant or of very low quality.

In modern English, yes. The only exception is the phrase 'an awful lot,' where it means 'a large amount,' which can be positive or negative depending on what there is a lot of.

It is spelled A-W-F-U-L. Do not include an 'e' after the 'w.' This is a very common mistake because the root word 'awe' has an 'e.'

Use 'awfully' as an adverb to describe how an action is done ('He played awfully') or as an intensifier meaning 'very' ('I'm awfully hungry').

It is generally neutral to informal. In very formal writing, you should use more specific or clinical words like 'deficient,' 'adverse,' or 'deplorable.'

Not usually. While something awful can be scary, 'awful' focuses on how unpleasant or bad something is, not necessarily how much fear it causes.

Yes. If you call someone an 'awful person,' you mean they are very mean, unkind, or have a bad character.

'Dreadful' and 'terrible' are very common, as is 'rubbish' (informal) to describe quality.