German word

überhaupt

Pronunciation

IPA/ˌyːbɐˈhaʊ̯pt/

Meaning

  • adverbat all

Example

Ich habe überhaupt keine Zeit.

I don't have any time at all.

Illustration for überhaupt (at all)

More examples

Brauchen wir das überhaupt?

Do we need that at all?

Core concept

A question looks across the whole situation and asks whether even one bit of something is present.

Common phrases

  • überhaupt kein

    no ___ at all

  • überhaupt nötig

    necessary at all

Similar words

gar: Emphasizes that something is entirely absent or does not happen.
wirklich: Confirms that something is truly the case.
eigentlich: Focuses on the actual situation in question.

Definition in German

Ein Adverb, das in Verneinungen und Fragen benutzt wird, um zu betonen, ob etwas in irgendeinem Maß vorhanden oder der Fall ist.

Word origin

Überhaupt combines über ('over') with Haupt ('head' or 'main part'), and the older sense 'overall' developed into uses such as 'at all' and 'in the first place'.

Usage tips

  • With negation, überhaupt nicht means 'not at all', while in a question überhaupt often means 'at all' or 'in the first place'.

Other meanings

  • in the first placeadverb
  • in generaladverb

Word lists with this word