German word

einmal

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaɪ̯nmaːl/

Meaning

  • adverbonce

Example

Ich war nur einmal in Japan.

I was in Japan only once.

Illustration for einmal (once)

More examples

Ich rufe dich einmal pro Woche an.

I call you once a week.

Core concept

One event stands alone as a small mark, or one such mark lies somewhere in an earlier stretch of time.

Common phrases

  • noch einmal

    once again

  • nur einmal

    only once

  • einmal pro Woche

    once a week

  • auf einmal

    suddenly

Similar words

noch einmal: One more time, repeating the same action or event.
wieder: Again, as a previous state or action returns.
mal: A vague indication of the number of times something happens.
schon einmal: Once before, referring to a past experience or event.

Definition in German

einmal bedeutet 'ein einziges Mal' und kann auch im Sinne von 'einst' beziehungsweise 'einmal früher' verwendet werden

Word origin

German formed einmal by joining ein 'one' and Mal 'occasion', extending the idea of one occurrence to a past occasion.

Usage tips

  • In a request such as 'Schau einmal', einmal can soften the wording and need not mean exactly one time or occasion.

Other meanings

  • formerlyadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • einmaligone-timeadjective
  • Einmalone timenoun

Word lists with this word