What does gut mean in German?

Gut means "good" as an adjective and "well" as an adverb. It is the most frequently used adjective in German.

What is the comparative of gut?

The comparative is besser (better) and the superlative is am besten (best). Both are irregular and share no stem with gut, just like "good, better, best" in English.

Is gut an adjective or an adverb?

Both. Gut describes nouns as an adjective (ein guter Film, a good film) and modifies verbs as an adverb (sie singt gut, she sings well). The form does not change between the two uses.

What is the opposite of gut?

The opposite is schlecht (bad). Its comparative and superlative are regular: schlechter (worse) and am schlechtesten (worst).

Why is it guten Morgen but gute Nacht?

Both are shortened accusative phrases, and the ending follows the gender of the noun. Morgen is masculine, so it takes guten, while Nacht is feminine and takes gute.

German Words for Beginners

Adjective

gut

better

Gut (good) is the most common German adjective, and its comparison forms are completely irregular. The comparative is besser (better) and the superlative is am besten (best). Neither is built from gut, so they have to be memorized as separate words, exactly like "good, better, best" in English.

Like most short German adjectives, gut also works as an adverb without changing form. Ein gutes Buch is a good book, and er spricht gut Deutsch is "he speaks German well". German does not add an ending for the adverb the way English adds "-ly".

When gut describes a noun, it takes the normal adjective endings that shift with gender and case. With a definite article: das gute Essen (the good food). With an indefinite article: ein gutes Essen. In the plural without an article: gute Bücher (good books). These endings are the part learners spend the most time on, and practicing them inside full sentences works better than reading a table.

Greetings use the accusative form: guten Morgen (good morning), guten Tag, guten Abend, but gute Nacht because Nacht is feminine.

Two phrases are worth learning as units. Mir geht es gut means "I am well" and answers wie geht es dir?. Gut gemacht means "well done". Alles Gute means "all the best" and is what Germans write in birthday cards.

Forms of gut

English

better

Positive

gut

Comparative

besser

Superlative

am besten

Synonyms

prima

toll

Antonyms

schlecht

Vocabulary lists with gut

gut appears in the following vocabulary collections:

Goethe A1 Adjectives

Goethe A2 Adjectives

Goethe B1 Adjectives

Practice gut in games

Example Sentences

Das Essen ist gut.
The food is good.
Simple predicative adjective after 'sein'.
Ich fühle mich gut.
I feel good.
Reflexive verb with predicate adjective.
Sie hat eine gute Idee.
She has a good idea.
Attributive adjective with article.

Frequently asked questions about gut

What does gut mean in German?: Gut means "good" as an adjective and "well" as an adverb. It is the most frequently used adjective in German.
What is the comparative of gut?: The comparative is besser (better) and the superlative is am besten (best). Both are irregular and share no stem with gut, just like "good, better, best" in English.
Is gut an adjective or an adverb?: Both. Gut describes nouns as an adjective (ein guter Film, a good film) and modifies verbs as an adverb (sie singt gut, she sings well). The form does not change between the two uses.
What is the opposite of gut?: The opposite is schlecht (bad). Its comparative and superlative are regular: schlechter (worse) and am schlechtesten (worst).
Why is it guten Morgen but gute Nacht?: Both are shortened accusative phrases, and the ending follows the gender of the noun. Morgen is masculine, so it takes guten, while Nacht is feminine and takes gute.