Splendid

gaer said:

For who, others:

There is a huge problem in finding the right correspondence between English and German for these words: splendid, wonderful, marvelous, great, fantastic, excellent, super.

I would use any of these words informally to answer a question like this:

Question: "What do you think of my idea?"

Answer: "Super, splendid, excellent, great!"

(and so on)

However, used in specific situations these words do not mean the same thing. So it's tough to give one word definitions on a site such as LEO.

"Splendor" is "great brightness or luster". So "splendid" is "shining, brilliant, possessing or displaying splendor". But that is a specific (liberal) meaning that does not show how "splendid" is used both informally and figuratively.

I would say that there may be as many as ten German words that work fine for figurative or informal usage, but those of you who speak German would have to choose a word for the literal meaning that shows that something is shining, brilliant, etc. One word that seems to be very good would be "glänzend". For "splendor" perhaps "Glanz".

Gaer

MrMagoo said:

Hi Gaer,

I just wrote it in another thread:
The best way of translating "splendid" into German might be "blendend"; also, as its pronunciation is almost quite close to the English "splendid".

gaer said:

Wow, I never thought of that. Yes, it would be good, because one meaning of "splendid" would extend to the idea of something being so bright, you need to avert your eyes. And blendend has this nuance!

Gaer

PS: Splendid, fine, excellent, great, wonderful, first-rate, fantastic answer. 👁 Wink ;)