einmal
once
Refers to one single time or one single occasion in the past, present, or future.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe diese Oper nur einmal gesehen.
I have seen this opera only once.
einmal
once
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Meanings
einmal
just
Often used in colloquial language to make a request or command sound more casual and friendly, similar to 'mal'.
EXAMPLE
Gib mir doch einmal den Stift, bitte.
Just give me the pen, please.
auf einmal
all at once
A fixed expression meaning 'suddenly' or 'unexpectedly'.
EXAMPLE
Auf einmal fing es an zu regnen.
All at once, it started to rain.
es war einmal
once upon a time
The traditional opening formula for fairy tales, meaning 'in the past' or 'a long time ago'.
EXAMPLE
Es war einmal eine Prinzessin, die in einem großen Schloss lebte.
Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived in a large castle.
nicht einmal
not even
Used to emphasize that even a minimal or expected thing is not the case.
EXAMPLE
Er hat nicht einmal angerufen, um sich zu entschuldigen.
He didn't even call to apologize.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is a combination of 'ein' (one) and 'Mal' (time/occasion). It literally means 'one single time' and can refer to the past or the future.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte dieses Restaurant noch einmal besuchen.
I would like to visit this restaurant once more.
Context clue
The meaning of 'einmal' depends heavily on context. When it describes a number of times, it is often stressed. As a filler word in a request, it is unstressed and often sounds like 'mal'.
EXAMPLE
Ich war nur einmal in Berlin.
I was in Berlin only once.
Colloquial particle
In spoken language, 'einmal' (often shortened to 'mal') is used to make a request or prompt sound friendlier and less direct. Here it has no literal meaning.
EXAMPLE
Schau einmal, was ich gefunden habe!
Look what I found!
Fixed expression
The expression 'auf einmal' (all at once/suddenly) is a fixed unit and means 'plötzlich' (suddenly). It often appears at the beginning of a sentence and then causes inversion (verb before subject).
EXAMPLE
Wir saßen im Garten und auf einmal begann es zu stürmen.
We were sitting in the garden, and all at once it started to storm.
Fairy-tale opening
The phrase 'Es war einmal ...' (Once upon a time ...) is the traditional and fixed opening of fairy tales in German. It introduces a story that takes place a long time ago.
EXAMPLE
Es war einmal ein König, der hatte drei Töchter.
Once upon a time, there was a king who had three daughters.
Intensifying negation
The combination 'nicht einmal' is used for emphasis and means 'not even'. It expresses that even a minimal expectation was not met.
EXAMPLE
Er war so müde, er hat nicht einmal zu Abend gegessen.
He was so tired that he didn't even eat dinner.
Compare with
einmal vs mal
once / times
Mal and einmal can make a request sound more casual and less direct. Mal is a typical colloquial particle without its own indication of time, while einmal can also genuinely mean a single occasion. Use mal for the offhand tone and einmal when the one-time nature is implied.
einmal
Ruf mich einmal an, um den Termin zu bestätigen.
Call me once to confirm the appointment.
mal
Ruf mich mal an, wenn du Zeit hast.
Call me sometime when you have time.
In real life
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