bitter

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English

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English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbɪt.ə/, [ˈbɪt.ʰə], (colloquially also) [ˈbɪʔ.ə]
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈbɪt.ɚ/, [ˈbɪɾ.ɚ]

  • Audio (California):

    (file)

• (Australia) IPA^(key): /ˈbɪt.ə/
• Homophone: bidder (in some dialects)
• Hyphenation: bit‧ter
• Rhymes: -ɪtə(ɹ)

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd-der.

Proto-Indo-European *bʰidrós

Proto-Germanic *bitraz

Proto-West Germanic *bitr

Old English biter

Middle English bittre

English bitter

From Middle English bitter, bittre, from Old English bitter, biter (“bitter”), from Proto-West Germanic *bitr, from Proto-Germanic *bitraz (“bitter”), equivalent to bite +‎ -er (agent noun suffix) used attributively. Cognate with Saterland Frisian, West Frisian, Low German, Danish, Dutch, German, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish bitter, Icelandic bitur (all meaning “bitter”).

Adjective

bitter (comparative more bitter or bitterer, superlative most bitter or bitterest)

1. Having an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).

   The coffee tasted bitter.

   • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

     Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth […].

   • 2018 May 16, Adam Rogers, “The Fundamental Nihilism of Yanny vs. Laurel”, in Wired‎^[1], San Francisco, Calif.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 August 2026:

     A few types of molecules get sensed by receptors on the tongue. Protons coming off of acids ping receptors for "sour." Sugars get received as "sweet." Bitter, salty, and the proteinaceous flavor umami all set off their own neural cascades.

2. Harsh, piercing, acerbic or stinging.
   • 1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust, p.31 (Perennial paperback edition)

     It was at the end of February, […] when the world was cold, and a bitter wind howled down the moors […].

3. Hateful or hostile.

   They're bitter enemies.

   • 2022 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham: Gunners show identity & direction in outstanding derby win”, in BBC Sport‎^[2], archived from the original on 5 October 2026:

     Tottenham have not won in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium for 12 years, with Arsenal losing just one of their last 29 home league games against their bitter rivals.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:

     He inveighed against the folly of making oneself liable for the debts of others; vented many bitter execrations against the brother; and concluded with wishing something could be done for the unfortunate family.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Colossians 3:19:

     Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

4. Cynical and resentful.

   I've been bitter ever since that defeat.

Usage notes

• The comparative forms bitterer and bitterest are less common than their counterparts more bitter and most bitter.

Synonyms

• acrid, caustic
• (cynical and resentful): jaded

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “cynical and resentful”): optimistic

Derived terms

• bitter African daisy (Arctotis stoechadifolia)
• bitter albizia (Albizia amara subsp. sericocephala)
• bitter almond (Prunus amygdalus)
• bitter aloes (Aloe spp.)
• bitter apple (Citrullus colocynthis, Solanum campylacanthum)
• bitter bark
• bitter bean (Parkia speciosa)
• bitter boletes (Caloboletus spp.; Tylopilus felleus)
• bitter bossie (Scabiosa columbaria)
• bitter bracket (Amaropostia stiptica)
• bitterbrush (Purshia spp.)
• bitter buchus, bitterbuchus (Diosma spp.)
• bitterbushes (Picramnia spp., Selago spp.)
• bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata)
• bitter chocolate
• bitter coco (Cyperus rotundus)
• bitter cold
• bitter cornsalad (Valerianella amarella)
• bittercress, bitter-cress (Cardamine spp., etc.)
• bitter cryptandra (Cryptandra amara)
• bitter cucumber (Citrullus colocynthis)
• bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius)
• bitter dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)
• bitter drumstick tree (Moringa concanensis)
• bitter fleabane (Erigeron acris)
• bitter forest grape (Rhoicissus revoilii)
• bitterful
• bitter funnel (Leucopaxillus gentianeus)
• bitter ganna (Caroxylon esterhuyseniae)
• bitter gooseberry (Ribes amarum)
• bitter gourd (Momordica charantia)
• bitter grape (Rhoicissus tridentata subsp. tridentata)
• bitter herbs
• bitter hickory (Carya cordiformis)
• bitter hymenoxys (Hymenoxys odorata)
• bitterish
• bitter kambro (Adenium oleifolium)
• bitter karoo (Pentzia lanata)
• bitter karree (Searsia marlothii)
• bitter-leaf (Brachylaena elliptica)
• bitter leaf (Embelia ruminata)
• bitterless
• bitter lettuce (Lactuca virosa)
• bitterlings (Acheilognathidae spp., Blackstonia perfoliata)
• bitterly
• bittermelon, bitter melon
• bitter milkwort (Senega polygama, Polygala amara)
• bitter myrobalan (Phyllanthus amarus)
• bitterness
• bitter nightshade) (Solanum dulcamara)
• bitternut (Carya cordiformis)
• bitter nutmeg (Myristica beddomei)
• bitter orange, bitterorange (Citrus spp.)
• bitter oysterling (Panellus stipticus)
• bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum)
• bitter paramosage (Salvia xeropapillosa)
• bitter peas (Daviesia spp.)
• bitter pecan (Carya cordiformis, Carya aquatica)
• bitter pill
• bitter pill to swallow
• bitter pit
• bitter poisonpie (Hebeloma sinapizans)
• bitter quandong (Santalum murrayanum)
• bitter ragwort (Senecio chrysocoma)
• bitterroot
• bitter rot
• bitter scalewort (Porella arboris-vitae)
• bittersharp
• bitter snakewood (Condalia globosa)
• bitter sneezeweed (Helenium amarum)
• bittersome
• bitter sorrel (Oxalis cathara)
• bitter sow-thistle (Sonchus wightianus)
• bitter spar
• bitter squash (Momordica charantia)
• bittersweets, bitter-sweets (Celastrum spp.; Glyycymerididae spp.)
• bitter teas (Gymnanthemum spp.)
• bitter thistle (Centaurea benedicta)
• bitter tomato (Solanum aethiopicum)
• bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia, Lathyrus linifolius)
• bitter vine (Trimenia moorei)
• bitter waxcap (Hygrocybe mucronella)
• bitter webcap (Cortinarius infractus)
• bitterweed
• bitter willow (Salix eleagnos)
• bitter wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris)
• bitterwood
• bitterwort (Gentiana lutea)
• debitter
• debitterize
• embitter
• Great Bitter Lake
• imbitter
• mild and bitter
• nonbitter
• overbitter
• sugarcoat a bitter pill
• swallow a bitter pill
• take the bitter with the sweet
• unbitter

Descendants

• Sranan Tongo: bita

Translations

having an acrid taste — see also tart,‎ acrid

• Akkadian: 𒋀 m (marrum)
• Aklanon: mapait
• Albanian: hidhur (sq)
• Amharic: መራራ (märara)
• Arabic: مُرّ (ar) (murr)

  Egyptian Arabic: مر (murr)

• Argobba: መራራ (märārā)
• Armenian: դառն (hy) (daṙn), կծու (hy) (kcu), մռու (hy) (mṙu)
• Aromanian: amar
• Assamese: তিতা (tita)
• Asturian: amargu (ast)
• Azerbaijani: acı (az), mürr
• Basque: mingots
• Belarusian: го́ркі (hórki)
• Bengali: তিতা (bn) (tita)
• Bhojpuri: तीत (tīt)
• Bikol:

  Central Bikol: mapait

• Breton: c'hwerv (br)
• Buginese: pai
• Bulgarian: горчив (bg) (gorčiv)
• Burmese: ခါး (my) (hka:)
• Catalan: amarg (ca)
• Cebuano: pait
• Chamicuro: pshawa
• Chechen: къаьхьа (qʼäḥʳa)
• Chin:

  Tedim Chin: kha

• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 苦 (fu²)

  Mandarin: 苦澀 / 苦涩 (zh) (kǔsè), 苦 (zh) (kǔ)

• Czech: hořký (cs) m
• Dalmatian: amur, amuor, marcus
• Danish: bitter (da)
• Dutch: bitter (nl)
• Dzongkha: ཁག་དྲགས (khag drags)
• Esperanto: amara (eo)
• Estonian: mõru, kibe (et)
• Even: гот (got)
• Ewe: veve
• Faroese: beiskur
• Fijian: qona
• Finnish: kitkerä (fi), karvas (fi)
• French: amer (fr)
• Friulian: amar, amâr
• Galician: amargo (gl)
• Gallurese: ràncicu
• Georgian: მწარე (mc̣are)
• German: bitter (de); (in a pleasant way, as in beer) herb (de)
• Gothic: 𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍄𐍂𐍃 (baitrs)
• Greek: πικρός (el) m (pikrós)

  Ancient Greek: πικρός (pikrós)

• Guarani:

  Mbya Guarani: ai

  Paraguayan Guarani: ^{(please verify)} ro

• Hebrew: מַר (he) m (mar), מרה (he) f (mará), מָרִיר (he) m (marír), מרירה f (merirá)
• Higaonon: mapait
• Hiligaynon: mapait
• Hindi: कड़वा (hi) (kaṛvā), कड़ा (hi) (kaṛā), कटु (hi) (kaṭu), तल्ख (hi) (talkh)
• Hungarian: keserű (hu)
• Icelandic: beiskur (is)
• Ido: bitra (io)
• Indonesian: pahit (id)
• Ingrian: karkia
• Ingush: къахьа (qʼaḥʳa)
• Interlingua: amar (ia)
• Irish: searbh, goirt, domlasta
• Italian: amaro (it) m, amara (it) f
• Ivatan: makpad
• Japanese: 苦い (ja) (にがい, nigai)
• Javanese: pait (jv)

  Old Javanese: pahit

• Kapampangan: mapait
• Kazakh: ащы (aščı), ашты (aštı)
• Khmer: ចត់ (km) (cɑt), ជូរ (km) (cuu)
• Korean: 쓰다 (ko) (sseuda)
• Kurdish:

  Central Kurdish: تاڵ (tall)

  Northern Kurdish: tal (ku)

• Kyrgyz: ачуу (ky) (acuu)
• Lao: ຂົມ (lo) (khom)
• Latgalian: ryugts m
• Ladin: ante (lld)
• Latin: amārus (la)
• Latvian: rūgts (lv), sīvs (lv), sūrs
• Lithuanian: kartus (lt)
• Lombard: amar, mar (lmo)
• Low German: bitter (nds)
• Macedonian: горчлив (gorčliv)
• Makasar: pai
• Malay: pahit (ms)
• Malayalam: കയ്പ്പ് (kayppŭ)
• Maltese: morr
• Manchu: ᡤᠣᠰᡳᡥᠣᠨ (gosihon)
• Mansaka: pait
• Mansi:

  Northern Mansi: восьрамыӈ (vosʹramyň)

• Maranao: mapa'it
• Marathi: कडू (mr) (kaḍū)
• Mongolian: гашуун (mn) (gašuun)
• Murut:

  Keningau Murut: mapait

• Naga:

  Khiamniungan Naga: khōushāk

• Nanai: гочиси (gočisi)
• Naxi: ka
• Norman: amé
• Norwegian: bitter (no)
• Nǀuu: ǁxʼaaqʻi
• Occitan: amar (oc)
• Odia: କଟୁ (or) (kaṭu), ତିକ୍ତ (or) (tikta)
• Ojibwe: wiisagi-
• Old Church Slavonic:

  Cyrillic: горькъ (gorĭkŭ)

• Old English: āfor
• Persian: تلخ (fa) (talx)
• Plautdietsch: betta
• Polish: gorzki (pl)
• Portuguese: amargo (pt)
• Quechua: k'allku
• Romanian: amar (ro)
• Russian: го́рький (ru) (górʹkij)
• Sanskrit: तिक्त (sa) (tikta)
• Sardinian:

  Campidanese: amargu

  Logudorese: rànzigu, rànchiu

• Sassarese: rànzigu
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: горак, грк, трпак, опор

  Latin: gorak (sh), grk (sh), trpak (sh), opor (sh)

• Sicilian: amaru (scn)
• Slovak: horký
• Slovene: grenak (sl)
• Somali: qadhaadh (so)
• Sorbian:

  Lower Sorbian: górki

  Upper Sorbian: hórki, jěrki

• Spanish: amargo (es), acibarado (es), amargoso (es), amaro (es) (desus.)
• Swedish: bitter (sv), besk (sv)
• Tagalog: mapait
• Tajik: талх (tg) (talx)
• Tausug: mapait
• Telugu: చేదు (te) (cēdu)
• Thai: ขม (th) (kǒm)
• Tongan: kava
• Turkish: acı (tr), keskin (tr), acılı (tr), yakıcı (tr), sert (tr), şiddetli (tr), iliklere işleyen

  Ottoman Turkish: آجی (acı)

• Turkmen: ajy (tk)
• Ugaritic: 𐎎𐎗 (mr)
• Ukrainian: гірки́й (hirkýj)
• Urdu: کڑوا (kaṛvā)
• Uzbek: achchiq (uz)
• Vietnamese: đắng (vi)
• Welsh: chwerw (cy)
• Wolaytta: camuwa
• Yakut: аһыы (ahïï)
• Yiddish: ביטער (biter)
• Zazaki: tun (diq)
• Zou: khe

harsh, piercing or stinging

• Arabic: أَلِيم (ʔalīm)
• Armenian: սուր (hy) (sur), ծակող (hy) (cakoġ), դաժան (hy) (dažan), անողոք (hy) (anoġokʻ), սաստիկ (hy) (sastik)
• Bulgarian: остър (bg) (ostăr)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 苦 (zh) (kǔ), 嚴酷 / 严酷 (zh) (yánkù)

• Danish: bidende
• Dutch: scherp (nl)
• Finnish: terävä (fi)
• French: dur (fr), sévère (fr), rude (fr)
• German: bitter (de), arg (de), harsch (de), hart (de)
• Greek: πικρός (el) m (pikrós)
• Hindi: तीव्र (hi) (tīvra), उग्र (hi) (ugra)
• Hungarian: metsző (hu)
• Irish:

  Old Irish: aicher

• Italian: aspro (it), (of weather) gelido (it)
• Japanese: 激しい (ja) (はげしい, hageshii), 過酷な (ja) (かこくな, kakoku na), 荒々しい (ja) (あらあらしい, araarashii)
• Latin: acerbus (la)
• Marathi: तीव्र (tīvra), उग्र (ugra)
• Portuguese: agudo (pt), penetrante (pt)
• Russian: го́рький (ru) (górʹkij), мучи́тельный (ru) (mučítelʹnyj), суро́вый (ru) (suróvyj)
• Turkish:

  Ottoman Turkish: آجی (acı)

hateful or hostile

• Arabic: مَقِيت (maqīt), مَمْقُوت (mamqūt)
• Armenian: չար (hy) (čʻar), ամենաչար (amenačʻar)
• Bulgarian: злобен (bg) (zloben), враждебен (bg) (vraždeben)
• Catalan: hostil
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 可恨 (zh) (kěhèn), 可惡 / 可恶 (zh) (kěwù), (hostile) 懷敵意 / 怀敌意 (zh) (huáidíyì)

• Danish: bitter (da)
• Dutch: bitter (nl)
• Finnish: katkera (fi)
• French: haineux (fr), haïssable (fr), odieux (fr), (hostile) hostile (fr)
• German: erbittert (de), verhasst (de), hässlich (de), (hostile) feindlich (de)
• Hindi: ईर्ष्यालु (hi) (īrṣyālu)
• Hungarian: elkeseredett (hu)
• Japanese: 憎らしい (ja) (nikurashii), いやな (iya na), (hostile) 敵対 (ja) (tekitai)
• Latin: asper
• Māori: pūraurau (referring to feelings and words)
• Marathi: कट्टर (kaṭṭar)
• Naga:

  Khiamniungan Naga: khōushāk

• Norwegian: bitter (no)
• Portuguese: encarniçado
• Russian: зло́бный (ru) (zlóbnyj), злой (ru) (zloj), ненави́стный (ru) (nenavístnyj), вражде́бный (ru) (vraždébnyj)
• Serbo-Croatian: ljȗt (sh)
• Swedish: bitter (sv)
• Telugu: చేదు (te) (cēdu)

cynical and resentful

• Armenian: խայթող (xaytʻoġ)
• Bulgarian: циничен (bg) (ciničen)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 心酸 (zh) (xīnsuān)

• Czech: zatrpklý
• Danish: bitter (da), forbitret
• Dutch: verbitterd (nl)
• Finnish: katkera (fi)
• French: amer (fr)
• German: verbittert (de)
• Gothic: 𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍄𐍂𐍃 (baitrs)
• Greek: πικρός (el) m (pikrós)
• Hebrew: מריר (he) m (marír), מרירה f (merirá)
• Hungarian: megkeseredett (hu)
• Irish: domlasta
• Latin: amarus (la)
• Māori: pūraurau
• Naga:

  Khiamniungan Naga: khōushāk

• Norwegian: bitter (no)
• Polish: zgorzkniały (pl) m
• Portuguese: amargurado (pt) m
• Russian: злой (ru) (zloj), озло́бленный (ru) (ozlóblennyj)
• Serbo-Croatian: ògōrčen (sh), о̀го̄рчен
• Slovene: zagrenjen
• Spanish: amargado (es)
• Swedish: bitter (sv)
• Turkish:

  Ottoman Turkish: آجی (acı)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Breton: ^{(please verify)} c'hwerv (br)
• Hindi: ^{(please verify)} कडुवा (kaḍuvā)
• Indonesian: ^{(please verify)} pahit (id), ^{(please verify)} getir (id)
• Interlingua: ^{(please verify)} acerbe, ^{(please verify)} amar (ia)
• Lithuanian: ^{(please verify)} kartùs (lt) m
• Urdu: ^{(please verify)} کڑوا (kaḍuvā)
• Volapük: ^{(please verify)} biedik (vo)
• Woiwurrung: ^{(please verify)} balim-balim

See also

• bitter end

Adverb

bitter (comparative more bitter, superlative most bitter)

1. To an intense or severe degree; bitterly.
   • 2012, Mir Bahmanyar, Darby's Rangers 1942–45, page 26:

     A dynamic personality in the outfit, he met his death in the bitter-fought engagements in Venafro.

   • 2022, Ernest Haycox, The Complete Novels: Son of the West, Saddle and Ride, Action by Night, The Silver Desert, Bugles in the Afternoon:

     After that bitter-spoken warning, talk ceased outside […] .

   • 2022, Bec McMaster, Flames and Fated Mates: Six Seductive Fantasy Romance Novels:

     The dream of it ached, bitter and sharp, for that was all it was.

Derived terms

• bitter cold

Noun

bitter (countable and uncountable, plural bitters)

1. (usually in the plural bitters) A liquid or powder, made from bitter herbs, used in mixed drinks or as a tonic.
   • 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer:

     Thus I begin: "All is not gold that glitters,
     "Pleasure seems sweet, but proves a glass of bitters.

2. A type of beer heavily flavored with hops.
3. (nautical) A turn of a cable about the bitts.

Synonyms

• (beer): English pale ale, EPA

Derived terms

• best bitter
• brought up to a bitter
• cooking bitter
• Mishmi bitter
• session bitter

Translations

liquid or powder used in mixed drinks or as tonic

• Armenian: դառնություն (hy) (daṙnutʻyun)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 苦啤酒 (kǔpíjiǔ)

• Danish: bitter (da)
• Finnish: katkero (fi)
• Hungarian: gyomorkeserű (hu)
• Spanish: bíter (es) m

type of beer

• Armenian: դառը գարեջուր (daṙə gareǰur)
• Danish: bitter (da)
• Finnish: bitter (fi)

See also

Basic tastes in English (layout · text)
sweet	sour	salty	bitter	spicy	savory

Verb

bitter (third-person singular simple present bitters, present participle bittering, simple past and past participle bittered)

1. (archaic) To make bitter.
   • 1766, John Wilkinson, Tutamen Nauticum:

     bittered with the hop

Translations

to make bitter

• Finnish: katkeroida

References

• “bitter”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁

▲

Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu.

Proto-Indo-European *dwís

Proto-Italic *dwis

Proto-Indo-European *-nós

Proto-Italic *-nos

Proto-Italic *dwiznos

Latin bīnus

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-os?

Proto-Indo-European *-o-

Proto-Indo-European *-so-

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂so-

Proto-Indo-European *-yós

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂s(i)yós

Proto-Italic *-āsijos

Proto-Italic *-āsios

Latin -ārius

Late Latin bīnāriuslbor.

Middle English binarie

English binary

Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-

Proto-Indo-European *deyǵ-

Proto-Italic *digitosder.

Latin digitusbor.

Middle English digit

English digit

English binary digitabbr.

▲

English bitinflu.

English bit

▲

Latin -āriusnom.

Latin -āriusbor.

Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz

Proto-West Germanic *-ārī

Old English -ere

Middle English -ere

▲

Latin -ārius

Old French -ierbor.

Middle English -er

English -er

English bitter

From bit + -er.

Noun

bitter (plural bitters)

1. (computing, informal, in combination) A hardware system whose architecture is based around units of the specified number of bits (binary digits).
   • 1983, Computerworld, volume 17, number 49, page 21:

     However, 16-bitters are far more expensive than the 8-bit variety. And, unfortunately, have only a handful of business applications software packages that really take advantage of them.

   • 1984, Electronic Business, volume 10, page 154:

     The company believes that the 32-bit market will almost equal that of 16-bitters by the end of the decade. Chip maker Zilog Inc., not a major player in the 16-bit arena, is even more bullish about 32-bitters as it readies its own version for market.

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch bitter, from Middle Dutch bitter, from Old Dutch bitter, from Proto-West Germanic *bitr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbətər/

Adjective

bitter (attributive bitter or bittere, comparative bitterder, superlative bitterste)

1. bitter (having an acrid taste)
2. very

Danish

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Middle Low German bitter.

Adjective

bitter (neuter bittert, plural and definite singular attributive bitre)

1. bitter (all meanings)

Inflection

Inflection of bitter

	positive	comparative	superlative
indefinite common singular	bitter	bitrere	bitrest2
indefinite neuter singular	bittert	bitrere	bitrest2
plural	bitre	bitrere	bitrest2
definite attributive1	bitre	bitrere	bitreste

¹ When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite,
the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
² The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

Related terms

• bitterhed
• forbitret

See also

Basic tastes in Danish (layout · text)
sød	sur	salt	bitter	stærk	umami

Etymology 2

A nominalization of the adjective.

Noun

bitter c (singular definite bitteren, plural indefinite bittere)

1. bitter (the liquid used in drinks)
2. A bitter form of an aquavit

Inflection

Declension of bitter

common gender	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	bitter	bitteren	bittere	bitterne
genitive	bitters	bitterens	bitteres	bitternes

Etymology 3

Borrowed from English bitter.

Noun

bitter c

1. bitter (type of beer - only known generally in Denmark for a few years)

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch bitter, from Old Dutch bitter, from Proto-West Germanic *bitr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɪtər/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: bit‧ter
• Rhymes: -ɪtər

Adjective

bitter (comparative bitterder, superlative bitterst)

1. bitter (having an acrid taste)
2. bitter, embittered

Declension

Declension of bitter
uninflected	bitter
inflected	bittere
comparative	bitterder
		positive	comparative	superlative
predicative/adverbial		bitter	bitterder	het bitterst het bitterste
indefinite	m./f. sing.	bittere	bitterdere	bitterste
	n. sing.	bitter	bitterder	bitterste
	plural	bittere	bitterdere	bitterste
definite		bittere	bitterdere	bitterste
partitive		bitters	bitterders	—

Derived terms

• bittere pil
• bitterheid
• bitterkoekje
• bitterzoet
• verbitteren

Descendants

• Afrikaans: bitter
• Negerhollands: bitter, better, bitu
• → Caribbean Hindustani: bitá
• → Saramaccan: bíta
• → Sranan Tongo: bita

See also

• (tastes) smaak; bitter, zoet, zout, zuur ^{(Category: nl:Taste)}

Noun

bitter m or n (plural bitters, diminutive bittertje n)

1. bitters, a type of strong spirits made by steeping (often bitter) herbs in brandy or jenever, traditionally considered a digestive drink

   Synonym: kruidenbitter

   Zonder zijn gebruikelijke bittertje om vier uur voelde Opa zich niet lekker. ― Without his regular shot of bitter at four o'clock, Grandpa wouldn't feel well.

Usage notes

When used in a countable sense (a serving of bitter), the diminutive is the usual form.

Derived terms

• bitterbal
• bittergarnituur
• kruidenbitter
• oranjebitter

Descendants

• Afrikaans: bitter
• → Caribbean Hindustani: bitá
• → Catalan: bíter
• → Italian: bitter
• → Papiamentu: beter, bitter
• → Saramaccan: bíta
• → Sranan Tongo: bita

Further reading

• The article Bitters on Wikipedia

Finnish

Etymology

From English bitter.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbiter/, [ˈbit̪e̞r]
• IPA^(key): /ˈbitːer/, [ˈbit̪ːe̞r]
• Rhymes: -itːer
• Syllabification^(key): bit‧ter
• Hyphenation^(key): bit‧ter

Noun

bitter

1. bitter (type of beer)

Declension

Inflection of bitter (Kotus type 6/paperi, no gradation)
nominative		bitter	bitterit
genitive		bitterin	bitterien bittereiden bittereitten
partitive		bitteriä	bittereitä bitterejä
illative		bitteriin	bittereihin
		singular	plural
nominative		bitter	bitterit
accusative	nom.	bitter	bitterit
	gen.	bitterin
genitive		bitterin	bitterien bittereiden bittereitten
partitive		bitteriä	bittereitä bitterejä
inessive		bitterissä	bittereissä
elative		bitteristä	bittereistä
illative		bitteriin	bittereihin
adessive		bitterillä	bittereillä
ablative		bitteriltä	bittereiltä
allative		bitterille	bittereille
essive		bitterinä	bittereinä
translative		bitteriksi	bittereiksi
abessive		bitterittä	bittereittä
instructive		—	bitterein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of bitter (Kotus type 6/paperi, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative bitterini bitterini accusative nom. bitterini bitterini gen. bitterini genitive bitterini bitterieni bittereideni bittereitteni partitive bitteriäni bittereitäni bitterejäni inessive bitterissäni bittereissäni elative bitteristäni bittereistäni illative bitteriini bittereihini adessive bitterilläni bittereilläni ablative bitteriltäni bittereiltäni allative bitterilleni bittereilleni essive bitterinäni bittereinäni translative bitterikseni bittereikseni abessive bitterittäni bittereittäni instructive — — comitative — bittereineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative bitterisi bitterisi accusative nom. bitterisi bitterisi gen. bitterisi genitive bitterisi bitteriesi bittereidesi bittereittesi partitive bitteriäsi bittereitäsi bitterejäsi inessive bitterissäsi bittereissäsi elative bitteristäsi bittereistäsi illative bitteriisi bittereihisi adessive bitterilläsi bittereilläsi ablative bitteriltäsi bittereiltäsi allative bitterillesi bittereillesi essive bitterinäsi bittereinäsi translative bitteriksesi bittereiksesi abessive bitterittäsi bittereittäsi instructive — — comitative — bittereinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative bitterimme bitterimme accusative nom. bitterimme bitterimme gen. bitterimme genitive bitterimme bitteriemme bittereidemme bittereittemme partitive bitteriämme bittereitämme bitterejämme inessive bitterissämme bittereissämme elative bitteristämme bittereistämme illative bitteriimme bittereihimme adessive bitterillämme bittereillämme ablative bitteriltämme bittereiltämme allative bitterillemme bittereillemme essive bitterinämme bittereinämme translative bitteriksemme bittereiksemme abessive bitterittämme bittereittämme instructive — — comitative — bittereinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative bitterinne bitterinne accusative nom. bitterinne bitterinne gen. bitterinne genitive bitterinne bitterienne bittereidenne bittereittenne partitive bitteriänne bittereitänne bitterejänne inessive bitterissänne bittereissänne elative bitteristänne bittereistänne illative bitteriinne bittereihinne adessive bitterillänne bittereillänne ablative bitteriltänne bittereiltänne allative bitterillenne bittereillenne essive bitterinänne bittereinänne translative bitteriksenne bittereiksenne abessive bitterittänne bittereittänne instructive — — comitative — bittereinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative bitterinsä bitterinsä accusative nom. bitterinsä bitterinsä gen. bitterinsä genitive bitterinsä bitteriensä bittereidensä bittereittensä partitive bitteriään bitteriänsä bittereitään bitterejään bittereitänsä bitterejänsä inessive bitterissään bitterissänsä bittereissään bittereissänsä elative bitteristään bitteristänsä bittereistään bittereistänsä illative bitteriinsä bittereihinsä adessive bitterillään bitterillänsä bittereillään bittereillänsä ablative bitteriltään bitteriltänsä bittereiltään bittereiltänsä allative bitterilleen bitterillensä bittereilleen bittereillensä essive bitterinään bitterinänsä bittereinään bittereinänsä translative bitterikseen bitteriksensä bittereikseen bittereiksensä abessive bitterittään bitterittänsä bittereittään bittereittänsä instructive — — comitative — bittereineen bittereinensä

Further reading

• “bitter”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[3] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2 July 2023

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bi.te/

• Audio (Paris):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Somain)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Vosges)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

Verb

bitter

1. (transitive, slang) to understand, usually used in negative form and especially with rien

   Synonym: comprendre

   J’ai rien bitté au cours.

   I got nothing of the class

Conjugation

Conjugation of bitter (see also Appendix:French verbs)

infinitive	simple	bitter
	compound	avoir + past participle
present participle or gerund1	simple	bittant /bi.tɑ̃/
	compound	ayant + past participle
past participle		bitté /bi.te/
		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		je (j’)	tu	il, elle, on	nous	vous	ils, elles
(simple tenses)	present	bitte /bit/	bittes /bit/	bitte /bit/	bittons /bi.tɔ̃/	bittez /bi.te/	bittent /bit/
	imperfect	bittais /bi.tɛ/	bittais /bi.tɛ/	bittait /bi.tɛ/	bittions /bi.tjɔ̃/	bittiez /bi.tje/	bittaient /bi.tɛ/
	past historic2	bittai /bi.te/	bittas /bi.ta/	bitta /bi.ta/	bittâmes /bi.tam/	bittâtes /bi.tat/	bittèrent /bi.tɛʁ/
	future	bitterai /bi.tʁe/	bitteras /bi.tʁa/	bittera /bi.tʁa/	bitterons /bi.tʁɔ̃/	bitterez /bi.tʁe/	bitteront /bi.tʁɔ̃/
	conditional	bitterais /bi.tʁɛ/	bitterais /bi.tʁɛ/	bitterait /bi.tʁɛ/	bitterions /bi.tə.ʁjɔ̃/	bitteriez /bi.tə.ʁje/	bitteraient /bi.tʁɛ/
(compound tenses)	present perfect	present indicative of avoir + past participle
	pluperfect	imperfect indicative of avoir + past participle
	past anterior2	past historic of avoir + past participle
	future perfect	future of avoir + past participle
	conditional perfect	conditional of avoir + past participle
subjunctive		que je (j’)	que tu	qu’il, qu’elle	que nous	que vous	qu’ils, qu’elles
(simple tenses)	present	bitte /bit/	bittes /bit/	bitte /bit/	bittions /bi.tjɔ̃/	bittiez /bi.tje/	bittent /bit/
	imperfect2	bittasse /bi.tas/	bittasses /bi.tas/	bittât /bi.ta/	bittassions /bi.ta.sjɔ̃/	bittassiez /bi.ta.sje/	bittassent /bi.tas/
(compound tenses)	past	present subjunctive of avoir + past participle
	pluperfect2	imperfect subjunctive of avoir + past participle
imperative		–	tu	–	nous	vous	–
simple		—	bitte /bit/	—	bittons /bi.tɔ̃/	bittez /bi.te/	—
compound		—	simple imperative of avoir + past participle	—	simple imperative of avoir + past participle	simple imperative of avoir + past participle	—
1 The French gerund is usable only with the preposition en.
2 In less formal writing or speech, these tenses may be found to have been replaced in the following way: past historic → present perfect past anterior → pluperfect imperfect subjunctive → present subjunctive pluperfect subjunctive → past subjunctive (Christopher Kendris [1995], Master the Basics: French, pp. 77, 78, 79, 81).

Further reading

• “bitter”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012

German

Etymology

From Middle High German bitter, pitter, from Old High German bittar, from Proto-West Germanic *bitr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɪ.tɐ/

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Adjective

bitter (strong nominative masculine singular bitterer or (poetic) bittrer, comparative bitterer or (poetic) bittrer, superlative am bittersten)

1. bitter (having a bitter taste)

   Ich mag kein Bier, das ist mir zu bitter.

   I don't like beer, it's too bitter for my taste.

2. bitter, disappointing, awful

   So kurz vor dem Ziel wegen einer Verletzung ausscheiden zu müssen, ist natürlich sehr bitter für ihn.

   Having to drop out so close to the finish line because of an injury is very disappointing for him, of course.

3. bitter, embittered (resentful and negative as a result of bad experiences)

Usage notes

• The forms contracting the -e- are common in speech, but not typically written except to clarify the elided syllable in poetry.

Declension

Positive forms of bitter number & gender singular plural masculine feminine neuter predicative er ist bitter sie ist bitter es ist bitter sie sind bitter strong declension (without article) nominative bitterer bittrer1 bittere bittre1 bitteres bittres1 bittere bittre1 genitive bitteren bittren1 bitterer bittrer1 bitteren bittren1 bitterer bittrer1 dative bitterem bittrem1 bitterer bittrer1 bitterem bittrem1 bitteren bittren1 accusative bitteren bittren1 bittere bittre1 bitteres bittres1 bittere bittre1 weak declension (with definite article) nominative der bittere der bittre1 die bittere die bittre1 das bittere das bittre1 die bitteren die bittren1 genitive des bitteren des bittren1 der bitteren der bittren1 des bitteren des bittren1 der bitteren der bittren1 dative dem bitteren dem bittren1 der bitteren der bittren1 dem bitteren dem bittren1 den bitteren den bittren1 accusative den bitteren den bittren1 die bittere die bittre1 das bittere das bittre1 die bitteren die bittren1 mixed declension (with indefinite article) nominative ein bitterer ein bittrer1 eine bittere eine bittre1 ein bitteres ein bittres1 (keine) bitteren (keine) bittren1 genitive eines bitteren eines bittren1 einer bitteren einer bittren1 eines bitteren eines bittren1 (keiner) bitteren (keiner) bittren1 dative einem bitteren einem bittren1 einer bitteren einer bittren1 einem bitteren einem bittren1 (keinen) bitteren (keinen) bittren1 accusative einen bitteren einen bittren1 eine bittere eine bittre1 ein bitteres ein bittres1 (keine) bitteren (keine) bittren1 1Poetic. Comparative forms of bitter number & gender singular plural masculine feminine neuter predicative er ist bitterer er ist bittrer1 sie ist bitterer sie ist bittrer1 es ist bitterer es ist bittrer1 sie sind bitterer sie sind bittrer1 strong declension (without article) nominative bittererer bittrerer1 bitterere bittrere1 bittereres bittreres1 bitterere bittrere1 genitive bittereren bittreren1 bittererer bittrerer1 bittereren bittreren1 bittererer bittrerer1 dative bittererem bittrerem1 bittererer bittrerer1 bittererem bittrerem1 bittereren bittreren1 accusative bittereren bittreren1 bitterere bittrere1 bittereres bittreres1 bitterere bittrere1 weak declension (with definite article) nominative der bitterere der bittrere1 die bitterere die bittrere1 das bitterere das bittrere1 die bittereren die bittreren1 genitive des bittereren des bittreren1 der bittereren der bittreren1 des bittereren des bittreren1 der bittereren der bittreren1 dative dem bittereren dem bittreren1 der bittereren der bittreren1 dem bittereren dem bittreren1 den bittereren den bittreren1 accusative den bittereren den bittreren1 die bitterere die bittrere1 das bitterere das bittrere1 die bittereren die bittreren1 mixed declension (with indefinite article) nominative ein bittererer ein bittrerer1 eine bitterere eine bittrere1 ein bittereres ein bittreres1 (keine) bittereren (keine) bittreren1 genitive eines bittereren eines bittreren1 einer bittereren einer bittreren1 eines bittereren eines bittreren1 (keiner) bittereren (keiner) bittreren1 dative einem bittereren einem bittreren1 einer bittereren einer bittreren1 einem bittereren einem bittreren1 (keinen) bittereren (keinen) bittreren1 accusative einen bittereren einen bittreren1 eine bitterere eine bittrere1 ein bittereres ein bittreres1 (keine) bittereren (keine) bittreren1 1Poetic. Superlative forms of bitter number & gender singular plural masculine feminine neuter predicative er ist am bittersten sie ist am bittersten es ist am bittersten sie sind am bittersten strong declension (without article) nominative bitterster bitterste bitterstes bitterste genitive bittersten bitterster bittersten bitterster dative bitterstem bitterster bitterstem bittersten accusative bittersten bitterste bitterstes bitterste weak declension (with definite article) nominative der bitterste die bitterste das bitterste die bittersten genitive des bittersten der bittersten des bittersten der bittersten dative dem bittersten der bittersten dem bittersten den bittersten accusative den bittersten die bitterste das bitterste die bittersten mixed declension (with indefinite article) nominative ein bitterster eine bitterste ein bitterstes (keine) bittersten genitive eines bittersten einer bittersten eines bittersten (keiner) bittersten dative einem bittersten einer bittersten einem bittersten (keinen) bittersten accusative einen bittersten eine bitterste ein bitterstes (keine) bittersten

Coordinate terms

• (tastes) Geschmack; bitter, salzig, sauer, süß ^{(Category: de:Taste)}

Derived terms

• bitterarm
• bitterböse
• bitterkalt
• Bitterkeit
• Bitterkraut
• bitterlich
• Bitterling
• Bittermelone
• Bitternis
• Bittersalz
• Bitterspat
• bittersüß
• entbittern
• erbittern
• verbittern

See also

Basic tastes in German (layout · text)
süß	sauer	salzig	bitter	scharf	herzhaft

Adverb

bitter

1. bitterly

   Synonym: verbittert

2. very, deeply; used to intensify certain negative verbs

   Das hat ihn bitter enttäuscht.

   That deeply disappointed him.

Further reading

• “bitter” in Duden online
• “bitter”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎^[4] (in German)
• “bitter” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch bitter.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbit.ter/
• Rhymes: -itter
• Hyphenation: bìt‧ter

Noun

bitter m (invariable)

1. bitters

Further reading

• “bitter”, in Vocabolario Treccani on line (in Italian), Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana, 2026

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch bitter, from Proto-West Germanic *bitr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɪtːər/

Adjective

bitter

1. bitter (taste)
2. sad, painful

Inflection

This adjective needs an inflection-table template.

Descendants

• Dutch: bitter
• Limburgish: bitter

Further reading

• “bitter”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929), “bitter”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Middle Low German bitter and Old Norse bitr.

Adjective

bitter (neuter singular bittert, definite singular and plural bitre, comparative bitrere, indefinite superlative bitrest, definite superlative bitreste)

1. bitter

Derived terms

• bitterhet

References

• “bitter” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Middle Low German bitter and Old Norse bitr.

Adjective

bitter (neuter singular bittert, definite singular and plural bitre, comparative bitrare, indefinite superlative bitrast, definite superlative bitraste)

1. bitter

References

• “bitter” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old Dutch

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *bitr, from Proto-Germanic *bitraz.

Adjective

bitter

1. bitter

Inflection

Declension of bitter (a-stem)

strong declension
case	masculine	feminine	neuter	plural
nominative	bitter	bitter	bitter	bittera, bittere
accusative	bitteran, bitteren	bittera	bitter	bittera, bittere
genitive	bitteres	bitterero	bitteres	bitterero
dative	bitterin, bitteremo	bitterero	bitterin, bitteremo	bitteron
weak declension
case	masculine	feminine	neuter	plural
nominative	bittero	bittera	bittera	bitteron
accusative	bitteron	bitteron	bittera	bitteron
genitive	bitterin	bitteron	bitterin	bitterono
dative	bitterin	bitteron	bitterin	bitteron

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: bitter
  • Dutch: bitter
  • Limburgish: bitter

Further reading

• “bitter”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbit.ter/

Adjective

bitter

1. alternative form of biter

Declension

Declension of bitter — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	bitter	bitteru, bitru, bittero, bitro	bitter
Accusative	bitterne	bittere, bitre	bitter
Genitive	bitteres, bitres	bitterre	bitteres, bitres
Dative	bitterum, bitrum	bitterre	bitterum, bitrum
Instrumental	bittere, bitre	bitterre	bittere, bitre
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	bittere, bitre	bittera, bitra, bittere, bitre	bitteru, bitru, bittero, bitro
Accusative	bittere, bitre	bittera, bitra, bittere, bitre	bitteru, bitru, bittero, bitro
Genitive	bitterra	bitterra	bitterra
Dative	bitterum, bitrum	bitterum, bitrum	bitterum, bitrum
Instrumental	bitterum, bitrum	bitterum, bitrum	bitterum, bitrum

Declension of bitter — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	bittera, bitra	bittere, bitre	bittere, bitre
Accusative	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran	bittere, bitre
Genitive	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran
Dative	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran
Instrumental	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran
Accusative	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran	bitteran, bitran
Genitive	bitterra, bitterena, bitrena	bitterra, bitterena, bitrena	bitterra, bitterena, bitrena
Dative	bitterum, bitrum	bitterum, bitrum	bitterum, bitrum
Instrumental	bitterum, bitrum	bitterum, bitrum	bitterum, bitrum

Old High German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbit.ter/

Adjective

bitter

1. alternative form of bittar

References

• Joseph Wright, An Old High German Primer

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Norse bitr (partly through the influence of Middle Low German bitter), from Proto-Germanic *bitraz.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

bitter (comparative bittrare, superlative bittrast)

1. bitter; having an acrid taste
2. bitter; hateful
3. bitter; resentful

Declension

Inflection of bitter

Indefinite	positive	comparative	superlative1
common singular	bitter	bittrare	bittrast
neuter singular	bittert	bittrare	bittrast
plural	bittra	bittrare	bittrast
masculine plural2	bittre	bittrare	bittrast
Definite	positive	comparative	superlative
masculine singular3	bittre	bittrare	bittraste
all	bittra	bittrare	bittraste

¹ The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
² Dated or archaic.
³ Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.

See also

• besk

References

• “bitter”, in Svensk ordbok [Dictionary of Swedish] (in Swedish)
• “bitter”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• “bitter”, in Svenska Akademiens ordbok [Dictionary of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)

Anagrams

• bittre