German word

ständig

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃtɛndɪç/

Meaning

  • adverbconstantly

Example

Das Telefon klingelt ständig.

The phone keeps ringing.

Illustration for ständig (constantly)

More examples

Das Kind fragt ständig nach Süßigkeiten.

The child constantly asks for sweets.

Core concept

A phone keeps ringing with barely a pause, making the repeated sound feel like one unbroken event.

Common phrases

  • ständig anrufen

    constantly call

  • ständig müde sein

    constantly be tired

  • ständig beschäftigt sein

    constantly be busy

Similar words

immer: Consistently or at all times, without necessarily expressing annoyance.
dauernd: Continuously over time or repeatedly, often suggesting that it is bothersome.
oft: On numerous occasions, but not necessarily continuously, in everyday speech.

Definition in German

andauernd ohne Unterbrechung; ein Zustand oder Vorgang hört nicht auf.

Word origin

Ständig developed from Middle High German stæntic and Old High German stantīg, related to stehen, 'to stand', and originally expressing something fixed or lasting.

Usage tips

  • Ständig often adds an annoyed or overwhelmed tone when it describes repeated events, whereas immer is usually more neutral.

Other meanings

  • alwaysadverb
  • repeatedlyadverb
  • frequentlyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word