German word

etwas

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈɛtvas/

Meaning

  • pronounsomething

Example

Hast du etwas?

Do you have anything?

Illustration for etwas (something)

More examples

Willst du etwas essen?

Do you want something to eat?

Core concept

A deliberately unlabeled item or small portion, with its exact identity or size left open.

Common phrases

  • etwas essen

    eat something

  • etwas kaufen

    buy something

Similar words

irgendetwas: Any unspecified thing, regardless of its particular kind.
nichts: Nothing exists or is present.

Definition in German

Bezeichnet unbestimmte Dinge; in adjektivischen oder gradbezogenen Kontexten kann es als Abschwächung 'ein wenig' fungieren.

Word origin

Etwas developed from Old High German et(i)waz through Middle High German et(e)waz, with its final element historically related to the interrogative was.

Usage tips

  • As a pronoun, etwas is indeclinable, so the same form appears after prepositions, as in mit etwas Geduld.

Other meanings

  • a littleadverb
  • somewhatadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word