divers
Ich habe verschiedene Bücher und diverse Zeitschriften gekauft.
I bought various books and several magazines.
various, several, different kinds of
Diverse Meinungen wurden in der Diskussion geäußert.
Various opinions were expressed in the discussion.
Das Museum bietet diverse Ausstellungen an.
The museum offers diverse exhibitions.
Used to indicate multiple types or kinds of something. Often interchangeable with 'verschiedene' but slightly more formal.
diverse, varied (in a more qualitative sense)
Die Gruppe war kulturell sehr divers.
The group was culturally very diverse.
Emphasizes a wide range of differences, often used in social or cultural contexts.
Collocations
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'divers' in speech
In everyday conversation, Germans typically use 'verschiedene' or 'mehrere' instead of 'divers'. Reserve 'divers' for written contexts or when emphasizing qualitative diversity.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. informal register
Use 'divers' in formal writing (reports, academic texts) and 'verschiedene' in casual speech or informal writing.
Word Origin
From Latin 'diversus' (turned in different directions), past participle of 'divertere' (to turn aside). Entered German via Old French 'divers' in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
While 'divers' and 'verschiedene' are often interchangeable, 'divers' is slightly more formal and is preferred in written contexts. It is less common in spoken German, where 'verschiedene' is more typical. The word can also imply a qualitative diversity rather than just quantity.