German word

durchaus

Pronunciation

IPA/dʊɐ̯çˈaʊ̯s/

Meaning

  • adverbreally

Example

Der Film war durchaus sehenswert.

The film was really worth seeing.

Illustration for durchaus (really)

More examples

Das ist durchaus möglich.

The film was quite worth seeing.

Core concept

A claim makes it all the way through to firm confirmation, with no serious doubt left.

Common phrases

  • durchaus möglich

    quite possible

  • durchaus richtig

    quite right

Similar words

sehr: To a very high degree or extent.
wirklich: Genuinely true or actually the case.
ziemlich: To a fairly high or considerable degree.

Definition in German

Drückt zustimmend oder ablehnend betont aus, dass etwas tatsächlich oder ziemlich so ist.

Word origin

The compound durchaus joins durch ('through') and aus ('out'), and its spatial sense developed into 'through and through' and then emphatic affirmation.

Usage tips

  • With durchaus nicht, the adverb reinforces negation and means 'definitely not', so it does not always signal agreement.

Other meanings

  • certainlyadverb
  • completelyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word