German word

fundamental

Pronunciation

IPA/fʊndamɛnˈtaːl/

Meaning

  • adjectivefundamental

Example

Das ist ein fundamentales Problem.

That is a fundamental problem.

Illustration for fundamental (fundamental)

More examples

Auf fundamentaler Ebene müssen wir neu anfangen.

At a fundamental level, we need to start over.

Core concept

A foundation stone supporting the rest of a structure.

Common phrases

  • fundamentales Prinzip

    fundamental principle

  • auf fundamentaler Ebene

    at a fundamental level

  • fundamentale Werte

    fundamental values

Similar words

wesentlich: Central to the matter or required for it to work.
grundlegend: Serving as a basic foundation for further development.
grundsätzlich: Reflecting a general principle or basic approach.
essentiell: Essential for existence or fulfilling a purpose.

Definition in German

Von grundlegender Bedeutung; etwas, das das Wesen oder die Basis einer Sache bestimmt.

Word origin

German fundamental is a learned adjective based on Latin fundamentum, meaning 'foundation', and preserves the sense of something relating to a basis.

Usage tips

  • In everyday German, grundlegend or wesentlich often sounds more natural than fundamental, which has a relatively formal register.

Other meanings

  • basicadjective
  • essentialadjective
  • foundationaladjective

Opposites

  • nebensächlichsecondaryadjective

Related words

  • Fundamentfoundationnoun
  • Fundamentalismusfundamentalismnoun

Word lists with this word