fremd

adjective
foreign, strange
A1

“fremd” means “foreign” or “strange”. Gradable adjective: comparative “fremder”, superlative “am fremdesten”. Common usage includes “jemandem fremd sein” (takes dative: something is strange/unknown to someone). Antonyms: vertraut, bekannt. Used for both people and things; can mean unfamiliar or a feeling of alienation.

Examples

Er kommt aus einem fremden Land.
He comes from a foreign country.
Die Wohnung fühlte sich fremd an, obwohl die Möbel vertraut waren.
The apartment felt strange, although the furniture was familiar.
Die Speise schmeckt für mich fremd.
The dish tastes strange to me.

Details

GradableYes
Comparativefremder
Superlativeam fremdesten
ParticipleNo

Mnemonics

👁️Picture a person in unfamiliar clothes labeled 'fremd'.
👂Rhymes with 'friend' but with an 'm' — think 'not a friend' = strange/foreign.

Notes

Can mean 'foreign' (origin) or 'strange' (feeling).

Category

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