German word

umsonst

Pronunciation

IPA/ʊmˈzɔnst/

Meaning

  • adverbfor free

Example

Ich habe umsonst Karten bekommen.

I got tickets for free.

Illustration for umsonst (for free)

More examples

Beim Festival bekam sie Getränke umsonst.

At the festival, she got drinks for free.

Core concept

Something happens with nothing paid or nothing achieved: the result is free in one sense and futile in the other.

Common phrases

  • etwas umsonst bekommen

    get something for free

  • Eintritt umsonst haben

    have free admission

  • Service umsonst anbieten

    offer a service for free

Similar words

kostenlos: Not requiring payment of any kind.
gratis: Free of charge, expressed informally.
unentgeltlich: Provided without financial compensation, in formal language.
gebührenfrei: Not subject to a fee or charge.

Definition in German

Gratis, ohne Zahlung; kann auch ausdrücken, dass etwas vergeblich oder ohne Erfolg war.

Word origin

German umsonst continues Middle High German umbe sus, an older expression meaning "in vain" or "for nothing," which links its modern senses.

Usage tips

  • Context distinguishes the senses: kostenlos means free of charge, while vergeblich means in vain, but umsonst can mean either.

Other meanings

  • in vainadverb

Opposites

  • entgeltlichfor a feeadverb

Word lists with this word