German word

sowieso

Pronunciation

IPA/zoviˈzoː/

Meaning

  • adverbanyway

Example

Es ist kalt, aber wir gehen sowieso spazieren.

It's cold, but we're going for a walk anyway.

Illustration for sowieso (anyway)

More examples

Mach dir keine Sorgen, er vergisst das sowieso.

Don't worry, he'll forget it anyway.

Core concept

A planned action or accepted result stays unchanged when another circumstance is added or changes.

Common phrases

  • sowieso schon

    already anyway

  • ist sowieso so

    That's how it is anyway

  • kommt sowieso

    is coming anyway

Similar words

auf jeden Fall: The conclusion remains firm no matter what circumstances arise.
jedenfalls: In any event, the point remains valid despite surrounding conditions.
trotzdem: The action still takes place even when something stands in its way.
eh: The situation is accepted as settled since it is already clear.

Definition in German

Bezeichnet, dass etwas in jedem Fall geschieht oder gilt, unabhängig von anderen Umständen.

Word origin

Sowieso developed by contracting the older phrase so wie so into an adverb expressing an emphatic in-any-case meaning.

Usage tips

  • Sowieso commonly appears after the finite verb or near the end of a main clause, as in Wir gehen sowieso spazieren.

Other meanings

  • anyhowadverb
  • regardlessadverb

Word lists with this word