German word

zwar

Pronunciation

IPA/tsvaːɐ̯/

Meaning

  • adverbadmittedly

Example

Ich kann zwar nicht singen, aber ich kann tanzen.

I can't sing, admittedly, but I can dance.

Illustration for zwar (admittedly)

More examples

Ich habe zwar wenig Zeit, aber ich helfe dir.

I admittedly have little time, but I'll help you.

Core concept

A speaker briefly grants one point, then leaves room for a qualification or contrast.

Common phrases

  • zwar, aber

    admittedly, but

Similar words

doch: Emphasizes a fact that counters a denial or expectation.
allerdings: Acknowledges a fact before adding a condition or limitation.
trotzdem: Shows that a result or action remains unchanged despite earlier circumstances.

Definition in German

drückt eine zugestandene Tatsache oder Einschränkung aus und leitet oft einen Gegensatz ein; häufig in der Konstruktion 'zwar ... aber ...' verwendet.

Word origin

Zwar developed from Middle High German zwāre, related to wahr and originally meaning "truly" or "indeed".

Usage tips

  • Unlike English "although," zwar is an adverb rather than a subordinating conjunction and often appears with aber in two main clauses.

Word lists with this word