German Conversation · Level 59
75 words
German word
total
Pronunciation
IPA/toˈtaːl/
Meaning
- adverbreally
Example
Das ist total lecker.
That is really delicious.
More examples
Ich bin total begeistert.
I am really thrilled.
Core concept
A scale reaching its upper limit, marking either an extreme degree or a fully completed state.
Common phrases
total begeistert
really thrilled
total kaputt
really exhausted
total egal
really don't care
Similar words
sehr: Raises the degree of an adjective or adverb in a basic, general way.
wirklich: Signals that something is genuinely true, often with surprise or confirmation.
Definition in German
Total ist ein umgangssprachliches Intensivadverb, das Eigenschaften oder Meinungen verstärkt und in etwa 'sehr' oder 'ganz' bedeutet.
Word origin
The word traces back to Latin totus 'whole' through totalis, whose meaning of complete supports German uses for both completeness and strong degree.
Usage tips
- When total modifies a noun, it takes adjective endings, as in 'eine totale Überraschung'; before an adjective, it remains the unchanged adverb total.