German Conversation · Level 20
90 words
German word
öfter
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈœftɐ/
Meaning
- adverbmore often
Example
Ich rufe ihn öfter an.
I phone him more often.
More examples
Seit einigen Monaten mache ich beim Lernen öfter Pausen.
For several months now, I have been taking breaks more often while studying.
Core concept
The gaps between repeated actions shrink as their frequency rises.
Common phrases
öfter als früher
more often than before
öfter mal
more often
in letzter Zeit öfter
more often lately
Similar words
oft: Happening often.
häufig: Happening frequently in general.
Definition in German
häufiger; mit größerer Wiederholungszahl
Word origin
German inherited oft from an older Germanic adverb, and öfter is its established comparative form with the suffix -er.
Usage tips
- In immer öfter, öfter expresses a continuing increase in frequency, giving the phrase the sense 'more and more often'.