adjective
unusual, extraordinary
B1
Ungewöhnlich means 'unusual' or 'extraordinary'. It’s a gradable adjective: comparative 'ungewöhnlicher', superlative 'am ungewöhnlichsten'. Antonyms include 'üblich' and 'gewöhnlich'. Not a participle. Use normally with adjective endings; no special preposition or auxiliary. Common in both spoken and written German. Can modify nouns or be used predicatively.
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Es war ungewöhnlich, dass die Bibliothek samstags geöffnet blieb, obwohl normalerweise keine Veranstaltungen stattfanden.
It was unusual that the library stayed open on Saturdays, although normally no events took place.
Das war ein ungewöhnliches Geschenk, das niemand erwartet hatte.
That was an unusual gift that nobody expected.
Seine Herangehensweise an das Problem war wirklich ungewöhnlich, aber effektiv.
His approach to the problem was really extraordinary, but effective.
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Picture a person doing something odd at a formal event — you would call it ungewöhnlich.
Think 'un-gewöh-nlich' = 'not usual' — 'un' + 'gewöh' (like 'gaw') to remember 'not normal'.
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Ungewöhnlich is gradable: ungewöhnlicher, am ungewöhnlichsten. It is not a participle-derived adjective.