German word

umso

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʊmzoː/

Meaning

  • adverball the more

Example

Je mehr du übst, umso besser wirst du.

The more you practice, the better you become.

Illustration for umso (all the more)

More examples

Wenn die Preise sinken, wird das Angebot umso günstiger.

If prices fall, the offer will be all the cheaper.

Core concept

A rising scale: as one quantity moves higher, the linked quality rises with it.

Common phrases

  • umso günstiger

    all the cheaper

  • umso attraktiver

    all the more attractive

  • umso schwieriger

    all the more difficult

Similar words

desto: Introduces the result clause when one degree rises along with another.
je: Introduces the clause that sets the degree affecting a linked result.
sehr: Intensifies an adjective or adverb to mean very or highly.

Definition in German

Anzeigt, dass eine Eigenschaft in dem genannten Maße gilt oder umso stärker zutrifft, häufig in Vergleichen und auch als eigenständige Stellungnahme verwendet wird.

Word origin

The modern adverb umso grew from the older German phrase um so, whose parts expressed a corresponding degree in comparisons.

Usage tips

  • In the pattern je ..., umso ..., umso introduces the second comparative clause, while desto can fill the same role.

Word lists with this word