English–German
“instead” in German
Pronunciation
IPA/daˈfyːɐ̯/
Example
Ich habe kein Geld, dafür habe ich Zeit.
I have no money, but I have time instead.
How to say “instead” in German
“Instead” in German is dafür.
One missing benefit is balanced by another benefit offered in its place.
Example sentences with dafür
Das alte Radio war kaputt; als Ersatz dafür kaufte er einen neuen Lautsprecher.
The old radio was broken; as a replacement for it, he bought a new speaker.
Tips for using dafür
- In a contrast such as "Ich habe kein Geld, dafür habe ich Zeit," dafür means "instead" or "in return," not usually "therefore."
Other German words for “instead”
Ich wollte spazieren gehen, aber es regnete, also blieb ich stattdessen zu Hause.
I wanted to go for a walk, but it rained, so I stayed home instead.