German word

allerlei

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈalɐˌlaɪ̯/

Meaning

  • adjectivevarious

Example

Auf dem Markt gibt es allerlei Obst und Gemüse.

There are various fruits and vegetables at the market.

Illustration for allerlei (various)

More examples

Im Netz kursieren allerlei Gerüchte.

All sorts of rumors are circulating online.

Core concept

A market stall displaying fruit, tools, books, and other odds and ends.

Common phrases

  • allerlei Gerüchte

    various rumors

  • allerlei Informationen

    various information

Similar words

verschieden: Involving several clearly distinct kinds or examples.
vielfältig: Covering a broad and varied range of kinds or aspects.
unterschiedlich: Different from one another in quality or degree.
gemischt: Containing things of mixed kinds or qualities together.

Definition in German

Mehrere verschiedene Arten oder Dinge zusammenfassend bezeichnend, meist ungezwungen.

Word origin

The historical form allerlei joins aller, meaning 'all', with lei, meaning 'kind' or 'sort', and thus refers to things of every kind.

Usage tips

  • Allerlei is indeclinable before nouns, as in allerlei Obst and allerlei Dinge, so it does not take an adjective ending.

Opposites

  • homogenhomogeneousadjective

Word lists with this word