German Conversation · Level 87
59 words
German word
sonderlich
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈzɔndɐlɪç/
Meaning
- adverbparticularly
Example
Der Film war nicht sonderlich spannend.
The film wasn't particularly exciting.
More examples
Das Feedback war nicht sonderlich hilfreich.
The feedback was not particularly helpful.
Core concept
An indicator barely rises above the ordinary level, so the quality receives no special emphasis.
Common phrases
nicht sonderlich spannend
not particularly exciting
nicht sonderlich hilfreich
not particularly helpful
Similar words
nicht besonders: Directly indicates that something is not especially distinctive or remarkable.
nicht sehr: Directly indicates that something reaches only a low degree.
nicht wirklich: Softly denies that something matches an expected or favorable assessment.
Definition in German
Gibt an, dass das Ausmaß einer Eigenschaft nicht sehr groß ist, oft in negativen Kontexten.
Word origin
Sonderlich comes from Middle High German sunderlich, formed from sunder ('separate, special') with -lich, and originally meant 'special' or 'distinctive'.
Usage tips
- The common modern pattern is nicht sonderlich plus an adjective, as in nicht sonderlich spannend, meaning that the quality is present only to a limited degree.
Opposites
- außerordentlichexceptionallyadverb
- völligcompletelyadverb
Related words
- Sonderfallspecial casenoun
- Sonderwunschspecial requestnoun