Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

Einmal ist keinmal

/ˈaɪnmaːl ɪst kaɪnmaːl/
proverb★Intermediate— Once doesn't count◆proverb
◆ What It Really Means
Doing something only once doesn't count or have any real significance; repetition is necessary for impact.
¶ Literal Meaning
Once is never
Literal Breakdown
einmalonce+istis+keinmalnever
◇ Mental Image
The proverb creates a mental image of a single action being so insignificant that it might as well not have happened at all, emphasizing the need for repetition.
◈ When to Use
A coach might say this to a player who only practices once a week, emphasizing that consistency is key to improvement.
◉ Cultural Note
This proverb reflects a cultural value in German-speaking regions that emphasizes persistence and regular effort over sporadic actions.
informal

This proverb suggests that doing something only once doesn't really count or have any significant impact. It implies that repetition is necessary for something to be meaningful or to have an effect.

Er hat nur einmal in seinem Leben eine Diät gemacht, aber einmal ist keinmal.

He's only been on a diet once in his life, but once doesn't count.

Sie geht nur einmal im Monat ins Fitnessstudio, aber einmal ist keinmal.

She only goes to the gym once a month, but once doesn't count.

💡

This proverb is often used to encourage consistency and persistence in habits or behaviors.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

Alles hat ein erstes Malproverb
Everything has a first time
Übung macht den Meisterproverb
Practice makes perfect

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use this proverb when encouraging someone to be consistent in their actions or habits, rather than doing something just once.

⚡Gold Rule

Repetition Matters

The proverb underscores that single actions often lack significance; repetition is key to making an impact.

📖Word Origin

The phrase combines the German words 'einmal' (once) and 'keinmal' (never), creating a paradoxical statement that highlights the insignificance of a single occurrence.

📝Usage Notes

This proverb is commonly used in informal contexts to emphasize the importance of repetition and consistency. It can be applied to various situations, such as habits, learning, or personal development.

Word Breakdown

einmal
once
root
+
ist
is
root
+
keinmal
never
root
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.