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etwas

/ˈɛtvas/
pronoun★Beginner— something
general

An unspecified thing or amount; something

Ich habe etwas Interessantes gelesen.

I read something interesting.

Er hat etwas zu essen mitgebracht.

He brought something to eat.

💡

Used to refer to an unspecified object, quantity, or idea.

informal

A little; a small amount

Kann ich etwas Zucker in meinen Kaffee haben?

Can I have a little sugar in my coffee?

Ich habe etwas Geld gespart.

I saved a little money.

💡

Often used to indicate a modest or unspecified quantity.

Collocations

etwas zu essensomething to eatetwas trinkensomething to drinketwas Interessantessomething interesting

Synonyms

einigesein paarein bisschen

Antonyms

nichts

Related Phrases

etwas auf dem Herzen habenphrase
to have something on one's mind
etwas ausprobierenphrase
to try something out

💡Pro Tip

Indefinite Reference

Use 'etwas' when referring to an unspecified object or quantity, similar to 'something' in English.

⚡Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning of 'etwas' can shift slightly depending on context—whether it refers to an object, quantity, or abstract idea.

📖Word Origin

From Middle High German 'etwes', from Old High German 'etwes', from Proto-Germanic 'etwaz' (something).

📝Usage Notes

Often used with indefinite articles or adjectives to refer to unspecified things or quantities. Can also mean 'a little' in informal contexts.

Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch

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