German word

einige

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaɪ̯nɪgə/

Meaning

  • adjectivesome

Example

Ich habe einige Bücher.

I have some books.

Illustration for einige (some)

More examples

Kannst du einige Wörter erklären?

Can you explain some words?

Core concept

An unspecified cluster of people or things viewed as more than one but fewer than many.

Common phrases

  • einige Wörter

    some words

  • einige Minuten

    some minutes

Similar words

mehrere: Several people or things, numbering more than two.
manche: Part of a group, referring to some members but not all.
ein paar: Just a few people or things, expressed informally.

Definition in German

einige steht für eine nicht genau bestimmte, geringe bis mittlere Zahl von Sachen oder Personen und kann als Begleiter oder Fürwort auftreten

Word origin

Einige is historically related to ein 'one' through the suffix -ig; the older meaning 'individual' broadened into the modern meaning referring to an unspecified number.

Usage tips

  • English 'some' also covers uncountable amounts, whereas einige normally refers to countable plural people or things.

Other meanings

  • severaladjective
  • a fewadjective

Word lists with this word