01
gemeinhin
generally
Expresses that something is generally known, usual, or the case; in general, usually.
example
Kaffee wird gemeinhin als anregendes Getränk betrachtet.
Coffee is generally regarded as a stimulating drink.
gemeinhin
generally
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The adverb 'gemeinhin' (generally) is made up of 'gemein' and 'hin'. Here, 'gemein' does not mean 'mean' or 'nasty', but has its older meaning of 'general' or 'usual'.
EXAMPLE
Diese Regel ist gemeinhin bekannt.
This rule is generally known.
Sentence position
'Gemeinhin' (generally) can be placed flexibly in a sentence. It often stands at the beginning of the sentence in position 1, which triggers inversion: the verb moves to position 2. But it can also appear within the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Gemeinhin geht man davon aus, dass die Erde rund ist.
Generally, people assume that the Earth is round.
Register
'Gemeinhin' (generally) belongs more to written language or a formal style. In everyday language, other words such as 'normalerweise' (normally) or 'im Allgemeinen' (in general) are often used.
EXAMPLE
Der Klimawandel wird gemeinhin als eine der größten globalen Herausforderungen angesehen.
Climate change is generally regarded as one of the greatest global challenges.
Compare with
gemeinhin vs allgemein
general
'allgemein' and 'gemeinhin' can both express that something normally applies or is known to many people. 'allgemein' is very common and can be used as an adjective, for example 'eine allgemeine Regel' (a general rule), or in the fixed phrase 'im Allgemeinen' (in general). 'gemeinhin' is an adverb and sounds somewhat more formal; it means roughly 'usually' or 'as is generally assumed'. Learners may confuse the words because their meanings are close. The grammar is important: 'allgemein' can describe a noun, while 'gemeinhin' is more likely to describe a whole statement or a verb.
gemeinhin
Diese Schriftstellerin gilt gemeinhin als eine wichtige Stimme der modernen Literatur.
This writer is generally regarded as an important voice in modern literature.
allgemein
Im Allgemeinen ist der Supermarkt am Montagmorgen nicht so voll.
In general, the supermarket is not so crowded on Monday mornings.
In real life
Loading video examples...