schäbig
Translation
shabby, tacky, mean, stingy
Examples
Sein Mantel ist alt und schäbig.
His coat is old and shabby.
Das war eine schäbige Behandlung.
That was mean treatment.
Er gab nur ein schäbiges Trinkgeld.
He only gave a stingy tip.
Grammar Patterns
predicative: to be/seem ((...)) The hotel was quite shabby.
attributive: a shabby trick
Similar Words
Synonyms: heruntergekommen, armselig, gemein; Antonyms: elegant, großzügig, edel
Etymology
Derived from Middle High German 'schebec' (scabby), linked to 'Schabe' (cockroach, scab). The meaning evolved to 'worn out' and then to 'mean' or 'tacky'.
Memory Tips
Imagine something so worn out it looks like it's been scraped ('geschabt') or is fit for cockroaches ('Schaben').