derbe

See also: Derbe

Daur

Noun

derbe

1. pillow

German

Etymology

Initially a regional variation of derb, popularized via hip-hop culture.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

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Adjective

derbe (indeclinable)

1. (colloquial, chiefly Northern Germany) Alternative form of derb (“cool”, literally “rough”)

   Synonym: krass

   Der Typ is’ echt derbe.

   That guy’s really cool.

   (literally, “That guy’s really rough.”)

   derbe Beats ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Adverb

derbe

1. (colloquial) Used as intensifier; very
   • 2011, “Poesie Album”, in SchwarzWeiss, performed by Samy Deluxe:

     Kletter hoch auf der Karrieretreppe / Oh nein, das heißt Karriereleiter / Wenn's 'n Fehler war, dann nur ein derbe kleiner

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2014, “1000 Bars”, performed by Eko Fresh:

     Der deutsche Don, Digga, drück die Daum'n derbe

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

• The form is used in northern German slang to describe a kind of “rough coolness” but is also an expletive. It is rarely used quite synonymously with derb but is undistinguishable from it in all inflected forms.

Further reading

• “derbe” in Duden online