German word

irgendwann

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈɪʁgəntˈvan/

Meaning

  • adverbsometime

Example

Ich rufe dich irgendwann an.

I'll call you sometime.

Illustration for irgendwann (sometime)

More examples

Wir treffen uns irgendwann am Wochenende.

We'll meet sometime on the weekend.

Core concept

A timeline stretches in both directions, with one hidden point that may lie in the past or the future.

Common phrases

  • irgendwann am Wochenende

    sometime on the weekend

  • irgendwann nachts

    sometime at night

Similar words

bald: At a time in the near future.
in ein paar Tagen: Around a few days from now.
später: At a time after the present.
eines Tages: At some point in the distant future.

Definition in German

irgendwann bezeichnet einen unbestimmten Zeitpunkt in der Zukunft oder Vergangenheit.

Word origin

The adverb is a compound of irgend-, which marks an indefinite choice, and wann, the question word for time.

Usage tips

  • Irgendwann does not mean 'soon'; context or an added time phrase is needed to indicate how near the event is.

Other meanings

  • eventuallyadverb
  • somedayadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word