German word

allgemein

Pronunciation

IPA/algəˈmaɪ̯n/

Meaning

  • adjectivegeneral

Example

Das ist eine allgemeine Regel.

That is a general rule.

Illustration for allgemein (general)

More examples

Zu Beginn stellte er eine allgemeine Frage.

At the beginning, he asked a general question.

Core concept

One broad rule is written across a board for everyone, not beside one person's special case.

Common phrases

  • eine allgemeine Frage

    a general question

  • allgemeine Informationen

    general information

Similar words

generell: Including or affecting a broad range of cases or situations.
typisch: A common feature of a particular kind or situation.
üblich: Following the usual customs or practices of a group or setting.
normal: Within the ordinary range and not unusual.

Definition in German

so, dass etwas für die Mehrheit oder das Ganze gilt und nicht nur für einen einzelnen Fall.

Word origin

The compound joins all 'all' and gemein 'common or shared', with its broad meaning developing from the Middle High German form algemeine.

Usage tips

  • Im Allgemeinen is the common fixed phrase for 'generally', and Allgemeinen is capitalized because it is a substantivized adjective.

Other meanings

  • generallyadverb
  • commonadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word