German word

wörtlich

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈvœɐ̯tlɪç/

Meaning

  • adverbliterally

Example

Ich meine das wörtlich.

I mean it literally.

Illustration for wörtlich (literally)

More examples

wörtlich gesagt, war das ein Fehler.

Literally speaking, that was a mistake.

Core concept

The words point directly to the intended facts, with no figurative scene or inflated claim behind them.

Common phrases

  • wörtlich gesagt

    literally speaking

  • wörtlich gemeint

    meant literally

Similar words

buchstäblich: A phrase conveys exactly what its wording directly says.
wortwörtlich: Each word is retained exactly as it appears in the source.

Definition in German

so, wie die Worte gemeint sind; ohne bildliche oder übertriebene Bedeutung

Word origin

The German form wörtlich developed from Wort plus -lich, with Middle High German wortlîch as an earlier form.

Usage tips

  • German uses wörtlich both adverbially and adjectivally, as in etwas wörtlich nehmen and eine wörtliche Übersetzung.

Other meanings

  • word for wordadverb
  • literaladjective

Opposites

  • bildlichfigurativelyadverb

Related words

  • wortwörtlichword-for-wordadjective
  • Wörtlichkeitliteralnessnoun

Word lists with this word