German word

buchstäblich

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈbuːxʃtɛːplɪç/

Meaning

  • adverbliterally

Example

Er hat buchstäblich alle Bücher gelesen.

He has literally read all the books.

Illustration for buchstäblich (literally)

More examples

Nach dem Unfall lag das Auto buchstäblich in Schutt und Asche.

After the accident, the car was literally lying in rubble and ashes.

Core concept

Words and events are taken at face value, with no figurative leap between wording and reality.

Common phrases

  • buchstäblich im wörtlichen Sinne

    literally in the literal sense

  • buchstäblich kein Ende

    literally no end

  • buchstäblich vor Schmerzen schreien

    literally cry out in pain

Similar words

wörtlich: Taking written words or spoken lines exactly as expressed.
im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes: In the fullest and most literal sense of the words.
wirklich: Actually true or happening in reality.

Definition in German

Bedeutet in erster Linie 'wörtlich' bzw. 'wirklich' und kann in der Umgangssprache als Intensivierer fungieren.

Word origin

Buchstäblich is formed from Buchstabe, meaning 'letter', and -lich, giving the original sense 'according to the letters'.

Usage tips

  • In careful prose, buchstäblich usually marks literal or actual truth, while its colloquial intensifier use can sound exaggerated.

Other meanings

  • word for wordadverb
  • reallyadverb

Opposites

  • sinngemäßaccording to the meaningadverb
  • bildlichfigurativelyadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word