German word

ganz

Pronunciation

IPA/gants/

Meaning

  • adverbvery

Example

Ich bin ganz sicher.

I am very sure.

Illustration for ganz (very)

More examples

Das ist ganz richtig.

That is absolutely right.

Core concept

A whole object fills a frame: with a measurable quality, the frame shows a high level rather than necessarily an absolute limit.

Common phrases

  • ganz gut

    very good

  • ganz richtig

    absolutely right

  • ganz schön

    very nice

Similar words

sehr: To a very high degree.
ziemlich: To a fairly high degree.
voll: To an emphatically high degree in casual speech.
total: In casual speech, with the state fully in effect.

Definition in German

Ein Adverb, das den Grad einer Eigenschaft angibt und vor absoluten Adjektiven 'völlig', vor skalierbaren Adjektiven 'ziemlich' bedeutet.

Word origin

Ganz comes from the inherited Germanic adjective found in Old High German gans and Middle High German gantz, meaning whole or complete, and later gained adverbial uses.

Usage tips

  • The phrase 'nicht ganz' means 'not entirely' or 'not quite' and often softens a statement rather than simply reversing it.

Other meanings

  • quiteadverb
  • completelyadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word