also
Ich bin müde, also gehe ich früh ins Bett.
I'm tired, so I'm going to bed early.
used to indicate a conclusion or result based on what was just stated
Es regnet, also nehmen wir den Schirm mit.
It's raining, so we'll take the umbrella.
Often used in spoken German to connect ideas casually.
in that case; then
Also, was machen wir jetzt?
So, what do we do now?
Can also introduce a question or suggestion, similar to 'well' in English.
used to emphasize agreement or a logical step
Der Bericht ist unvollständig, also müssen wir ihn überarbeiten.
The report is incomplete, so we must revise it.
Common in written and formal contexts to show cause-and-effect.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'also' in writing
While 'also' is common in speech, it can sound informal in formal writing. Prefer 'somit', 'daher', or 'folglich' for a more polished tone.
Gold Rule
Use 'also' for logical conclusions
Pair 'also' with a comma when it introduces a result or consequence, e.g., 'Ich habe Hunger, also koche ich etwas.'
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'al sō', combining 'al' (all) and 'sō' (so). The modern sense of 'so' or 'then' emerged in Early New High German.
Usage Notes
In spoken German, 'also' is often used as a filler word to introduce a statement, similar to 'well' or 'so' in English. It can soften a request or transition between topics.