01
sofort
immediately
Without any delay; right away and instantly.
example
Als sie den Feueralarm hörte, verließ sie sofort das Gebäude.
When she heard the fire alarm, she immediately left the building.
sofort
immediately
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Position in the sentence
As an adverb, 'sofort' (immediately) can stand in different positions in the sentence. In position 1, it emphasizes urgency, and the verb follows directly after it. Inside the sentence, it usually stands after the conjugated verb.
EXAMPLE
Sofort rannte er los.
Immediately, he started running.
Direct tone
The word 'sofort' (immediately) is very direct and can sound strict in requests or commands. It leaves no room for delays.
EXAMPLE
Komm sofort hierher!
Come here immediately!
Outdated meaning
The meaning 'directly adjacent' is very rare today and is considered outdated or regional. In modern German, you will encounter almost exclusively the meaning 'unverzüglich' (immediately).
EXAMPLE
Das Grundstück liegt sofort am Park.
The property lies directly next to the park.
Compare with
sofort vs jetzt
now
'jetzt' and 'sofort' can both mean that something should happen without a long wait. 'jetzt' mainly refers to the current moment. 'sofort' is stronger and means: without delay, immediately. In requests or commands, 'sofort' often sounds more urgent or stricter than 'jetzt'. Learners may confuse the words because both fit situations involving hurry. If you only mean the moment, use 'jetzt'. If you want to emphasize that no one should wait, 'sofort' fits better.
sofort
Die Verkäuferin hilft dem Kunden sofort.
The saleswoman helps the customer immediately.
jetzt
Nina trifft sich jetzt mit ihren Freunden in der Stadt.
Nina is meeting her friends in town now.
In real life
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