besonders
especially
As an adverb: to a high degree; especially, above all.
EXAMPLE
Der Film war gut, besonders das Ende hat mir gefallen.
The film was good; I especially liked the ending.
besonders
especially / special
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Meanings
besonders
special
As an adjective: unusual, special, not everyday.
EXAMPLE
Heute ist ein ganz besonderer Tag für uns.
Today is a very special day for us.
besonders
especially
As an adverb: separately, apart, extra.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte mich bei Ihnen noch einmal ganz besonders für Ihre Hilfe bedanken.
I would like to thank you once again especially for your help.
Usage tips
Adverb or adjective?
'Besonders' can be an adverb ('especially') or an adjective ('special'). As an adverb, it is not declined. As an adjective, it stands before a noun and must be declined.
EXAMPLE
Das Wetter ist heute besonders schön.
The weather is especially nice today.
Word order as an adverb
As an adverb meaning 'vor allem' (above all) or 'speziell' (especially/specifically), 'besonders' usually stands directly before the word or phrase it emphasizes.
EXAMPLE
Ich mag Obst, besonders Erdbeeren.
I like fruit, especially strawberries.
Typical collocations as an adjective
As an adjective, 'besonders' (special) often describes things that are unique or important for an occasion. Typical combinations are 'ein besonderer Anlass' (a special occasion), 'ein besonderes Geschenk' (a special gift), or 'eine besondere Ehre' (a special honor).
EXAMPLE
Zu meinem Geburtstag habe ich ein besonderes Geschenk bekommen.
For my birthday, I received a special gift.
Compare with
besonders vs eigen
own / peculiar
Besonders describes an atmosphere as unusual or remarkable. Eigen, on the other hand, emphasizes that the atmosphere is characteristic of that particular place. An atmosphere can therefore be both besonders and eigen, depending on whether its effect or its distinctive character is meant.
besonders
Das kleine Café hat eine besonders angenehme Atmosphäre.
The small café has an especially pleasant atmosphere.
eigen
Das kleine Café hat eine ganz eigene Atmosphäre.
The small café has a distinctive atmosphere all its own.
In real life
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