German Conversation · Level 132
28 words
German word
abwechselnd
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈapvɛksl̩nt/
Meaning
- adverbalternately
Example
Wir arbeiten abwechselnd am Projekt.
We take turns working on the project.
More examples
Die Teilnehmer diskutierten abwechselnd über verschiedene Aspekte.
The participants discussed various aspects in turn.
Core concept
Several people or things pass through the same role in a repeating sequence.
Common phrases
abwechselnd arbeiten
work alternately
abwechselnd diskutieren
discuss in turn
abwechselnd besetzt sein
be occupied alternately
Similar words
wechselweise: By taking turns in an alternating sequence.
nacheinander: Successively, after the preceding person or thing has finished.
reihum: Around the group in order, giving each person or thing a turn.
Definition in German
Im Wechsel nacheinander auftretend; verschiedene Dinge folgen der Reihe nach.
Word origin
The adverb comes from abwechseln, a compound of ab- and wechseln, so its form reflects a change from one participant or state to another.
Usage tips
- Abwechselnd suggests repeated turn-taking, whereas nacheinander only states that items occur one after another without necessarily implying rotation.
Other meanings
- by turnsadverb
- in turnadverb
Opposites
- gleichzeitigsimultaneouslyadverb
- kontinuierlichcontinuouslyadverb
Related words
- abwechselnalternateverb
- Abwechslungvarietynoun
- abwechselungsreichvariedadjective