English–German

“backwards” in German

German

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʁʏkˌvɛʁts/

Example

Das Auto fuhr rückwärts in die Garage.

The car drove backwards into the garage.

Illustration for rückwärts (backwards)

How to say “backwards” in German

“Backwards” in German is rückwärts.

The normal forward line is turned around, so movement faces the rear and an ordered process runs from later steps to earlier ones.

Full entry for rückwärts: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with rückwärts

Er übte, rückwärts zu lesen.

He practiced reading backwards.

Tips for using rückwärts

  • Umgekehrt is preferred for 'conversely' or 'the other way around', while rückwärts retains a directional or sequence sense.

“backwards” in other languages