German word

plötzlich

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈplœtslɪç/

Meaning

  • adverbsuddenly

Example

Das Licht ging plötzlich aus.

The light suddenly went out.

Illustration for plötzlich (suddenly)

More examples

Draußen wurde plötzlich dunkel.

It suddenly got dark outside.

Core concept

A quiet situation changes without warning, like a light going out in an instant.

Common phrases

  • plötzlich dunkel werden

    suddenly grow dark

  • plötzlich still werden

    suddenly fall silent

  • plötzlich loslachen

    suddenly burst out laughing

Similar words

auf einmal: A change happens all at once, often after things seemed unchanged.
unerwartet: An event occurs in a way that was not expected.
unvermittelt: Something happens abruptly, with no prior sign or transition.

Definition in German

Dient zur Beschreibung eines raschen, unerwarteten Wechsels oder Ereignisses.

Word origin

Plötzlich comes from Middle High German plötzelich, a form built with the suffix -lich around the older base plotz.

Usage tips

  • As an adverb, plötzlich stays unchanged, but the related adjective takes endings, as in ein plötzlicher Wechsel.

Other meanings

  • abruptlyadverb
  • unexpectedlyadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Plötzlichethe sudden occurrencenoun

Word lists with this word