German word

gänzlich

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈgɛntslɪç/

Meaning

  • adverbcompletely

Example

Ich habe das Problem gänzlich verstanden.

I completely understood the problem.

Illustration for gänzlich (completely)

More examples

Die Theorie ist gänzlich falsch.

The theory is entirely wrong.

Core concept

A complete result has no missing pieces, exceptions, or remainder.

Common phrases

  • gänzlich falsch

    entirely wrong

  • gänzlich anders

    entirely different

Similar words

ganz: Covering the whole, or almost all of what is involved.
völlig: Entirely, with no room for limits, exceptions, or qualification.
vollkommen: Fully developed and lacking no essential quality.
komplett: Having every required part or item present.

Definition in German

Völlig; in allen Teilen zutreffend, ohne Reste oder Mängel.

Word origin

The word combines ganz, meaning whole or complete, with the productive suffix -lich, which forms an adjective later used adverbially here.

Usage tips

  • Gänzlich can modify participles and adjectives directly, as in gänzlich verstanden or gänzlich unbrauchbar, while ganz is more common in casual speech.

Other meanings

  • absolutelyadverb
  • fullyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word