German word

so

Pronunciation

IPA/zoː/

Meaning

  • adverbso

Example

Mach es so.

Do it like this.

Illustration for so (so)

More examples

Er hat es so gesagt.

He said it like that.

Core concept

A compact link between an indicated way of acting and the point that follows from it.

Common phrases

  • so wie

    like this

  • genau so

    exactly like this

  • nicht so

    not that much

Similar words

also: A transition cue for summing up the discussion or moving to the next point.
dann: A cue for advancing through a sequence or toward a resulting point.
nun: A conversational cue for changing direction or introducing what follows.

Definition in German

Dient zur Einleitung oder Zusammenfassung; so wird etwas eingeleitet oder auf etwas Bezug genommen

Word origin

German so is an inherited Germanic adverb from Proto-Germanic *swa through Old High German sō, corresponding to English so.

Usage tips

  • As a discourse particle, so commonly appears at the start of a spoken sentence and helps mark a transition or summary.

Other meanings

  • like thisadverb

Opposites

  • andersdifferentlyadverb
  • andersherumthe other way aroundadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word