German Conversation · Level 25
90 words
German word
eben
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈeːbən/
Meaning
- adverbjust now
Example
Ich habe ihn eben gesehen.
I've just seen him.
More examples
Sie hat eben erst angerufen.
She called only a moment ago.
Core concept
A moment sits exactly on the boundary of now, close enough to suggest both recent time and precise alignment.
Common phrases
eben erst
only just
eben vorhin
a little while ago
Similar words
gerade: Indicates that something happened only a moment ago.
soeben: Indicates that something happened shortly before now.
vorhin: Indicates that something happened earlier today or recently.
Definition in German
etwas, das unmittelbar vor dem jetzigen Zeitpunkt stattgefunden hat
Word origin
The adverb eben developed from the inherited Germanic adjective represented by Old High German eban 'even', with 'exactly' providing a bridge to 'just now'.
Usage tips
- For an unambiguous 'just now', soeben is a more explicit alternative, while eben also means 'exactly' or 'simply'.