billig

• IPA^(key): /bili/, [ˈb̥ili]

Borrowed from German billig.

billig (neuter billigt, plural and definite singular attributive billige)

1. cheap
2. (derogatory) slutty
3. (dated) fair

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

billig

1. imperative of billige

billig (comparative billiger, superlative billigst)

1. Alternative form of billijk

billig - instituut voor de Nederlandse taal

From Middle High German billich, from Old High German billīh (“appropriate”), from a suffixed form of Proto-Germanic *biliz (“merciful, kind, decent, fair”).

• (northern Germany) IPA^(key): [ˈbɪlɪç]
• (Upper German) IPA^(key): [ˈbɪlɪkʰ]

• Audio Northern Germany:

  (file)

  ,

  Upper Germany:

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  Austria:

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• Hyphenation: bil‧lig

billig (strong nominative masculine singular billiger, comparative billiger, superlative am billigsten)

1. (formal) appropriate, meet, fair

   Die Strafe ist billig und recht.

   The punishment is appropriate and just.

2. (informal) cheap (low-priced)

   Synonyms: (archaic) wohlfeil, günstig, preisgünstig, kostengünstig, niedrigpreisig, preiswert

   Antonyms: teuer, hochpreisig

   In Deutschland sind Lebensmittel billiger als in andern europäischen Ländern.

   In Germany, groceries are cheaper than in other European countries.

3. (low colloquial) cheap (of low quality, mediocre)

   Antonyms: edel, hochwertig

   Das Vorgehen der Regierung ist ein billiges Ablenkungsmanöver.

   The government's course of action is a cheap diversionary tactic.

The meaning “low-priced” only arose at the end of the 18^th century and has been very colloquial and frowned upon until the end of the 19^th century, the negative meaning having to arise even later after this word has attained domination in expressing the sense of cheapness in German. This word in the sense “cheap” is still known to be slightly colloquial, so, in formal speech, and because of its multiple senses, like günstig it is avoided in favour of circumscriptions or ungainly adjectives like preisgünstig and niedrigpreisig. Actually, in legal writing the original meaning is the expected one. The classical word for “cheap” is wohlfeil, the use of which now is restricted to chosen style.

• spottbillig

• “billig” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “billig” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “billig” in Duden online

From Middle Low German billich.

billig (neuter singular billig, definite singular and plural billige, comparative billigere, indefinite plural billigst, definite plural billigste)

1. cheap, inexpensive

• dyr

• “billig” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

From Middle Low German billich.

billig (neuter singular billig, definite singular and plural billige, comparative billigare, indefinite plural billigast, definite plural billigaste)

1. alternative form of billeg

• “billig” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

From Middle Low German billik, billich. Compare German billig and Dutch billijk.

• Audio

  (file)

billig (comparative billigare, superlative billigast)

1. cheap; of low price, of little worth

   Antonym: dyr

2. cheap, easy; requiring little effort
3. (archaic) reasonable, fair

   Antonym: obillig

   en billig begäran ― a reasonable request

   det är rätt och billigt ― that is fair and square

4. (obsolete) honest; decent; honorable
   • 1732-33, Olof von Dalin, Then Swänska Argus :

     Du måste och tilstå sielf, min billiga Läsare, at det är nödigt i wår tid at liuga Sanningen i Folck:

The original sense was "fair" or "reasonable". Thus ett billigt pris originally meant "a fair price" as opposed to "a low price". Since this sense is now dated (outside of legal contexts), the term låga priser ("low prices") is by many preferred to billiga priser.

• billighet

• billig in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• billig in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• billig in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)