das  Übel

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈyːbəl/

🤢 What exactly does "das Übel" mean?

The noun das Übel has several meanings in German, often with negative connotations:

• Evil, Badness: It refers to something morally reprehensible, a grievance, or suffering. Example: das Übel an der Wurzel packen (to tackle the evil/problem at its root).
• Illness, Affliction: It can also describe an illness, ailment, or general discomfort. Example: Er leidet an einem schweren Übel (He suffers from a serious affliction).
• Nausea (less common as a noun): Sometimes it's used colloquially for nausea, although the adjective "übel" (e.g., "Mir ist übel" - I feel nauseous) or the noun "die Übelkeit" (nausea) are more common. Example: Ein plötzliches Übel überkam ihn (A sudden nausea/ill overcame him).

🚨 Important: The word "Übel" can also be used as an adjective (e.g., ein übler Geruch - a nasty smell, mir ist übel - I feel sick/nauseous) and doesn't take an article then.

🧐 Grammar of "das Übel"

Das Übel is a neuter noun (sächlich). It is mostly used in the singular, especially when referring to the abstract concept of evil or a general problem/grievance. A plural form ("die Übel") exists but is used less frequently, usually referring to specific afflictions, problems, or plagues.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Geldgier ist die Wurzel allen Übels.
   (Greed is the root of all evil.)
2. Sie versuchte, das geringere Übel zu wählen.
   (She tried to choose the lesser evil/of two evils.)
3. Die sozialen Übel der Stadt müssen bekämpft werden.
   (The social ills/problems of the city must be fought.)
4. Er klagte über ein inneres Übel.
   (He complained about an internal ailment/trouble.)

💡 How to use "das Übel"?

Das Übel is often used in a more elevated or formal style of language, especially when discussing moral or societal problems.

• Moral Evil: Here it stands for wickedness, sinfulness, or harmfulness (e.g., das Übel der Korruption - the evil of corruption).
• Social Grievance/Problem: It can describe problems or negative conditions in society (e.g., soziale Übel wie Armut und Arbeitslosigkeit - social ills like poverty and unemployment).
• Personal Suffering/Illness: Less common, but possible, is its use for physical or mental suffering (e.g., ein chronisches Übel - a chronic ailment).
• Idioms: It appears in fixed expressions like "das Übel an der Wurzel packen" (to tackle the problem at its root) or "das kleinere/geringere Übel wählen" (to choose the lesser of two evils).

Distinction from "schlecht" (adjective): While "das Übel" is a noun describing a state or concept, "schlecht" is an adjective describing a quality (e.g., ein schlechter Mensch - a bad person, schlechtes Wetter - bad weather). "Übel" as an adjective often means "unwell/nauseous" or "morally bad" (ein übler Kerl - a nasty fellow, mir ist übel - I feel sick).

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Übel"

Article Mnemonic: Think of abstract, neutral concepts often being neuter (das) in German: das Problem, das Leid (suffering), das Schicksal (fate) – all these can be an Übel.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine feeling 'ill' (sounds a bit like Übel) – that's a bad feeling, a suffering, hence das Übel (the ill/evil). Or think of something *evil* - das Übel.

↔️ Antonyms and Similar Words

⚠️ Risk of Confusion:

• Adjective "übel": Don't confuse it with the noun! "Mir ist übel" (I feel sick - adjective) vs. "Das ist ein Übel" (That is an evil/ill - noun).
• Unwohl: Similar to 'übel' as an adjective for sickness, but 'unwohl' (unwell) is more general.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Philosophen Probleme so ernst?
(Why do philosophers take problems so seriously?)

Weil sie immer versuchen, das Übel an der Wurzel zu packen – und dabei oft auf Granit beißen!
(Because they always try to tackle the evil at its root – and often bite on granite / hit a brick wall!)

📜 Poem about "das Übel"

Ein Schatten schleicht, mal groß, mal klein,
Das Übel will's nicht anders sein.
Mal als Krankheit, die uns quält,
Mal als Missstand in der Welt.

Man packt's am Schopf, mit Mut und Kraft,
Doch oft hat's neue Wut entfacht.
So kämpfen wir, tagaus, tagein,
Gegen das allgegenwärtige Sein.

---

A shadow creeps, now large, now small,
The evil simply wants it all.
Sometimes as illness, causing pain,
Sometimes a grievance, world's bane.

We grab it fiercely, with might and main,
But often new wrath it does attain.
So we fight on, day out, day in,
Against the omnipresent sin.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich habe keinen Körper, doch verursache Schmerz.
(I have no body, yet I cause pain.)
Ich habe keine Stimme, doch breche manches Herz.
(I have no voice, yet I break many a heart.)
Man will mich an der Wurzel packen,
(People want to grab me by the root,)
Doch oft lieg ich in vielen Zacken.
(But often I lie in many jagged parts/facets.)

Was bin ich? (What am I?)

(Solution: das Übel - evil/the ill)

🧩 Other Interesting Aspects

• Word Origin: The word "Übel" is a basic word in modern German, not directly decomposable. It stems from the Old High German word "ubil".
• Related Words:
  • übelnehmen: to take something amiss, to resent something someone did.
  • misslich: describing an awkward, unpleasant situation (eine missliche Lage).
  • das Grundübel: the root cause of a problem, the fundamental evil.
• Philosophical Significance: In philosophy and theology, "das Übel" (evil) is a central theme (theodicy: the question of why a good God permits evil).