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  1. Home /
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  3. Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch /
  4. Wenn man will, kann man

Wenn man will, kann man

/vɛn man vɪl kant man/◆proverb
where there's a will, there's a way

Wenn man will, kann man alles erreichen.

Where there's a will, there's a way to achieve anything.


◆ What It Really Means
Determination and effort can help achieve goals despite obstacles.
¶ Literal Meaning
If one wants, one can
Literal Breakdown
Wennwhen+manone+willwants+kanncan
◇ Mental Image
A mental picture of someone overcoming challenges through sheer willpower and effort.
◈ When to Use
A friend is feeling discouraged about their career prospects. You might say, 'Wenn man will, kann man' to encourage them to keep trying.
◉ Cultural Note
This proverb is deeply rooted in German culture, reflecting values of hard work and resilience.
informal

This proverb emphasizes that determination and effort can overcome obstacles and achieve goals.

Er hat sein Ziel erreicht, weil er immer daran geglaubt hat: Wenn man will, kann man.

He achieved his goal because he always believed: Where there's a will, there's a way.

This phrase is often used to encourage perseverance and optimism.

Synonyms

Wenn man will, schafft man esAlles ist möglich, wenn man es wirklich will

Antonyms

Wenn man nicht will, kann man nicht

Related Phrases

Alles ist möglichproverb
Everything is possible

Pro Tip

Motivational Use

This phrase is often used to inspire others to take action and not give up on their dreams.

Word Origin

This phrase is a traditional German proverb that reflects the cultural value of perseverance and determination.

Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in motivational contexts to encourage someone to pursue their goals despite challenges.

Word Breakdown

Wenn man will
if one wants
phrase
+
kann man
one can
phrase
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch
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