individual / single
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individual
Describes a person or thing that is considered on its own or is separate from others. It is often used to emphasize that every single element of a group is meant.
Jeder einzelne Mitarbeiter muss an der Schulung teilnehmen.
Every individual employee must take part in the training.
isolated / occasional
Means 'a few' or 'scattered'. It describes that something does not occur in large numbers or density, but only here and there.
Am Himmel waren nur einzelne Wolken zu sehen.
Only a few isolated clouds could be seen in the sky.
The word 'einzel' comes from the number 'eins' (one). It always emphasizes the idea that something is considered as one unit or separately from others.
Können wir diese Frage bitte einzeln besprechen?
Can we please discuss this question individually?
'Einzel' is declined as an adjective before a noun ('einzelne Probleme' — individual problems) or used unchanged as an adverb ('Probleme einzeln lösen' — solve problems individually). The adverb describes how an action is carried out: one after another, not as a group.
Es gibt noch einzelne offene Punkte auf der Liste.
There are still individual open points on the list.
In the combination 'jeder einzelne' (every single one), the meaning is strengthened. It emphasizes that all elements of a group without exception are meant.
Jeder einzelne Stein wurde von Hand poliert.
Every single stone was polished by hand.
In the meaning 'vereinzelt' (isolated/scattered), the word is often used to describe a small, irregular number. Typical combinations are 'einzelne Fälle' (isolated cases), 'einzelne Stimmen' (a few isolated voices), or, in weather reports, 'einzelne Schauer' (isolated showers).
Es gab nur einzelne Proteste gegen die neue Regel.
There were only isolated protests against the new rule.
some / several
Einige refers neutrally to a small, unspecified subset. Einzel in forms such as einzelne, on the other hand, emphasizes that only a few members of a group occur in isolation or here and there. Use einzelne when this exceptional character is important.
Am Sonntag waren in der Innenstadt nur einzelne Geschäfte geöffnet.
On Sunday, only a few isolated shops in the city center were open.
Am Sonntag waren in der Innenstadt einige Geschäfte geöffnet.
On Sunday, some shops in the city center were open.
