Bequem, angenehm & unbequem, unangenehm: The Ultimate German Vocabulary Guide
When you learn German, you will often meet pairs of words that look similar but mean different things. Two common adjectives are bequem and angenehm, together with their opposites unbequem and unangenehm.
At first sight, they all seem to mean “comfortable” or “uncomfortable.” But in German, each has its own special use. Let’s explore the differences step by step.
Recommended study materials on the topic:
A-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
German self-study book for A1-B1 (incl. answers)
German Verb Charts: Learning Regular and Irregular Verbs at a glance
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1. The meaning of bequem
The German adjective bequem describes something physically comfortable and practical. You use it when talking about clothes, furniture, shoes, or even a way of traveling.
Examples:
Der Sessel ist bequem. → The armchair is comfortable.
Die Schuhe sind sehr bequem. → The shoes are very comfortable.
Es ist bequem, mit dem Zug zu fahren. → It is convenient/comfortable to travel by train.
👉 So bequem is about physical comfort and convenience.
Unsing “bequem” for people
If you call someone bequem, it does not mean they are pleasant to be with. Instead, it means the person likes to take the easy way out, avoids hard work, or prefers comfort over effort. In English, the closest word is lazy or easy-going in a negative sense.
Examples:
Er ist zu bequem, um aufzuräumen. → He is too lazy to tidy up.
Sie ist bequem und macht nur das Nötigste. → She is lazy and only does the bare minimum.
👉 Here, bequem = “comfort-loving, avoiding effort.”
2. The meaning of unbequem
Unbequem is the opposite of bequem. It describes things that make your body feel uncomfortable or impractical.
Examples:
Das Bett ist unbequem. → The bed is uncomfortable.
Die Hose ist unbequem. → The trousers are uncomfortable.
Die lange Busfahrt war unbequem. → The long bus ride was uncomfortable.
Using “unbequem” for people
If you call someone unbequem, you don’t mean they are physically uncomfortable. Instead, you mean the person is difficult, awkward, or causes problems because they speak up or question things.
Examples:
Er ist ein unbequemer Kollege. → He is a difficult colleague.
Sie stellt immer unbequeme Fragen. → She always asks uncomfortable (challenging) questions.
👉 Here, unbequem = “difficult, inconvenient, not easy to handle.”
Remember: Bequem means physically comfortable or convenient, but when used for people it describes someone lazy or avoiding effort. Unbequem means physically uncomfortable, but when used for people it describes someone difficult, challenging, or inconvenient.
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The meaning of “angenehm”
The German adjective “angenehm” describes something positive, pleasant, or enjoyable. It can be used for people, situations, or experiences.
Examples:
Es war ein sehr angenehmes Gespräch. → It was a very pleasant conversation.
Der Duft ist angenehm. → The smell is pleasant.
Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen – ganz angenehm! → Nice to meet you – a polite phrase.
👉 Angenehm is about emotional or social comfort.
Using “angenehm” for people
When used for people, angenehm means someone is pleasant, agreeable, or nice to be around.
Examples:
Sie ist eine sehr angenehme Kollegin. → She is a very pleasant colleague.
Er ist ein angenehmer Gesprächspartner. → He is a pleasant conversation partner.
👉 Here, angenehm = “pleasant, agreeable, nice to be with.”
The meaning of “unangenehm”
Unangenehm is the opposite of angenehm. It describes something unpleasant, awkward, or embarrassing.
Examples:
Das war eine unangenehme Situation. → That was an awkward/unpleasant situation.
Es ist mir unangenehm, darüber zu sprechen. → I feel uncomfortable talking about it.
👉 Unangenehm is about emotional or social discomfort.
Using “unangenehm” for people
When used for people, unangenehm means someone is unpleasant, difficult, or not nice to deal with.
Examples:
Er ist ein unangenehmer Mensch. → He is an unpleasant person.
Sie ist manchmal eine unangenehme Chefin. → She is sometimes an unpleasant boss.
👉 Here, unangenehm = “unpleasant, disagreeable, hard to be around.”
Remember: Angenehm means pleasant or enjoyable, but when used for people it describes someone who is agreeable, nice, and pleasant to be around. Unangenehm means unpleasant or awkward, but when used for people it describes someone who is disagreeable, unpleasant, or hard to deal with.
Overview
| Word | Meaning (things) | Use / Focus | Examples (things) | Meaning (people) | Examples (people) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bequem | comfortable, convenient | physical comfort and practicality | Der Sessel ist bequem. – The armchair is comfortable. Die Schuhe sind sehr bequem. – The shoes are very comfortable. Es ist bequem, mit dem Zug zu fahren. – It is convenient to travel by train. |
lazy, avoids effort; comfort-loving | Er ist zu bequem, um aufzuräumen. – He is too lazy to tidy up. Sie macht nur das Nötigste – sie ist bequem. – She only does the bare minimum. |
| unbequem | uncomfortable | physical discomfort | Das Bett ist unbequem. – The bed is uncomfortable. Die lange Busfahrt war unbequem. – The long bus ride was uncomfortable. |
difficult, inconvenient, challenging | Er ist ein unbequemer Kollege. – He is a difficult colleague. Sie stellt unbequeme Fragen. – She asks challenging questions. |
| angenehm | pleasant, agreeable | emotional or social comfort | Das Gespräch war angenehm. – The conversation was pleasant. Der Duft ist angenehm. – The smell is pleasant. |
pleasant, agreeable person | Sie ist eine angenehme Kollegin. – She is a pleasant colleague. Er ist ein angenehmer Gesprächspartner. – He is a pleasant conversation partner. |
| unangenehm | unpleasant, awkward | emotional or social discomfort | Die Situation war unangenehm. – The situation was awkward. Es ist mir unangenehm, darüber zu sprechen. – I feel uncomfortable talking about it. |
unpleasant, disagreeable person | Er ist ein unangenehmer Mensch. – He is an unpleasant person. Sie ist manchmal eine unangenehme Chefin. – She is sometimes an unpleasant boss. |
Practice: Which word fits?
Fill in the blanks with bequem, unbequem, angenehm, unangenehm.
Das Sofa ist weich und sehr ____.
Das war ein ____ Telefonat, ich habe mich sehr wohl gefühlt.
Mir ist es ____ zu fragen, ob ich Geld leihen kann.
Diese Schuhe sind zu eng, sie sind einfach ____.
Answers:
bequem
angenehm
unangenehm
unbequem
Conclusion
I hope it’s all clear now! You have seen how bequem/unbequem focus on physical comfort (and sometimes character traits) while angenehm/unangenehm deal with emotional or social comfort. By keeping this difference in mind, you can avoid mistakes and sound much more natural in German.
If you enjoyed this explanation, also check out our article on the difference between können, könnten, and konnten for another tricky German grammar topic explained simply.
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