German word

mal

Pronunciation

IPA/maːl/

Meaning

  • adverbjust

Example

Komm mal her.

Come here for a moment.

Illustration for mal (just)

More examples

Probier mal dieses Rezept.

Just try this recipe.

Core concept

A light conversational tap on an action, also marking one brief occurrence.

Common phrases

  • Probier mal

    just try

  • mal wieder

    again

  • mal kurz

    just briefly

Similar words

ja: Shows that something is considered obvious or expected.
doch: Adds a mild rebuttal to an opposing statement.
schon: Offers reassurance that things are fine as they are.
halt: Expresses resignation to circumstances that cannot be changed.

Definition in German

Umgangssprachliches Adverb, das Bitten und Aufforderungen abschwächt oder eine kurze, einmalige Handlung bezeichnet.

Word origin

German mal traces to Old High German māl, meaning a time or occasion, whose sense of one occurrence supports the adverbial and conversational uses.

Usage tips

  • In Komm mal her, mal usually softens the request rather than meaning literally once, and it stays lowercase because it is an adverb.

Other meanings

  • onceadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word