German Phrase
Das ist nicht sehr frisch.
Meaning
Literally, 'That is not very fresh.' It is used to comment that something (food, air, a piece of news, etc.) lacks freshness or is somewhat stale.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to politely point out that something could be better – for example, a salad that has wilted, a room that feels stuffy, or a story that feels outdated.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dasistnichtsehrfrisch
Das (demonstrative pronoun)
Used to point to a specific thing; here it refers to the subject being described.
ist (sein - present)
The third‑person singular present of 'sein' (to be), linking the subject with its description.
nicht (negation)
Negates the adjective phrase that follows; placed before 'sehr' and the adjective.
sehr (intensifier)
Means 'very' and intensifies the adjective; can be combined with negation to soften the statement.
frisch (adjective)
Describes something that is fresh, new, or recently made; here it is used in its base form after 'sein'.
🗨In Conversation
Wie schmeckt der Salat?
How does the salad taste?
Das ist nicht sehr frisch.
It’s not very fresh.
✕Common Mistakes
Das ist sehr nicht frisch.
Placing 'nicht' after 'sehr' changes the meaning; it must come before the intensifier.
Das ist nicht sehr frische.
Do not add an -e ending; after 'sein' the adjective stays in its base form.
Das sind nicht sehr frisch.
The verb must agree with the singular neuter subject 'Das'.
↔Alternatives
Das ist nicht besonders frisch.
That isn’t especially fresh.
Das ist nicht mehr frisch.
That is no longer fresh.
Das ist etwas abgestanden.
That is a bit stale.
Cultural Tip
In German, direct criticism of food can be seen as rude, especially in a host’s home. Softening the statement with 'nicht sehr' or adding a polite suggestion ('Vielleicht könnten wir etwas Frisches holen?') helps keep the tone friendly. Also, Germans often appreciate honesty about quality, so a gentle comment is usually welcomed.