01
manchmal
sometimes
At some times, but not always; occasionally, now and then.
example
Manchmal trinke ich Kaffee, aber meistens bevorzuge ich Tee.
Sometimes I drink coffee, but most of the time I prefer tea.
manchmal
sometimes
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Meanings
Usage tips
Position in the sentence
'Manchmal' can stand in different positions in the sentence. If it is in position 1, the conjugated verb follows immediately (inversion). However, it can also stand after the verb and subject.
EXAMPLE
Manchmal gehe ich am Sonntag spazieren.
Sometimes I go for a walk on Sunday.
Word structure
The word is made up of 'manch' and 'Mal'. Literally, it means 'manches Mal' (some times) and expresses that something happens occasionally but irregularly.
EXAMPLE
Manchmal frage ich mich, ob das die richtige Entscheidung war.
Sometimes I wonder whether that was the right decision.
Answer to a question
'Manchmal' is a typical answer to a 'Wie oft...?' (How often...?) question when the frequency is irregular or you do not want to commit to a precise answer.
EXAMPLE
„Gehst du oft ins Fitnessstudio?“ – „Manchmal, wenn ich Zeit habe.“
“Do you often go to the gym?” — “Sometimes, when I have time.”
Compare with
manchmal vs hier
here
'hier und da' (here and there) and 'manchmal' (sometimes) can both mean that something does not happen regularly. The difference is: 'manchmal' clearly talks about time, meaning individual occasions. 'hier und da' can also talk about time, but often sounds a bit more casual. In addition, 'hier und da' can also mean that something occurs in various places. If you simply want to say that something happens now and then, 'manchmal' is usually more direct and neutral.
manchmal
Manchmal kauft das Kind am Wochenende ein Eis.
Sometimes the child buys ice cream on the weekend.
hier
Im Bus hört man hier und da leise Gespräche.
On the bus, you hear quiet conversations here and there.
In real life
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