German word

außerordentlich

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʊ̯sɐˈɔʁdn̩tlɪç/

Meaning

  • adverbextremely

Example

Das Essen ist außerordentlich gut.

The food is extremely good.

Illustration for außerordentlich (extremely)

More examples

Er war außerordentlich freundlich zu den Fremden.

He was extremely friendly to the strangers.

Core concept

A result that stands well beyond the usual scale of quality or intensity.

Common phrases

  • außerordentlich teuer

    extremely expensive

  • außerordentlich freundlich

    extremely friendly

Similar words

sehr: To a high or considerable degree.
wirklich: Used to stress that something is genuinely or truly so.
extrem: To an extreme or exceptionally high degree.

Definition in German

in sehr hohem Maße, über das Gewöhnliche hinaus

Word origin

Außerordentlich combines außer, meaning 'outside', and ordentlich, meaning 'regular', with its intensifying sense developing from being outside what is usual.

Usage tips

  • Außerordentlich is more formal and emphatic than sehr, especially in written evaluations, while everyday speech often uses sehr or wirklich.

Other meanings

  • exceptionallyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word