adjective
poisonous, toxic
B1
Giftig means 'poisonous' or 'toxic' and describes substances or organisms that can harm or kill. It’s a gradable adjective (comparative giftiger, superlative am giftigsten) and has antonym ungiftig. As an adjective it takes standard German adjective endings depending on gender, case and definiteness.
Examples
Die Firma entfernte das Produkt aus dem Verkauf, weil Tests ergaben, dass es giftig war.
The company removed the product from sale because tests showed that it was toxic.
Die Chemikalie in dem Behälter ist giftig und muss sicher entsorgt werden.
The chemical in the container is toxic and must be disposed of safely.
Die Beeren sind giftig, iss sie nicht.
The berries are poisonous — don't eat them.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a bottle with a skull-and-crossbones label and the word 'giftig' stamped on it in red.
Sounds like English 'gift' (but in German it means harmful rather than a present).
Notes
Used both for substances that can poison living things (poisonous) and more generally for things that are harmful or toxic. Collocates with Tiere/Staub/Chemikalien.