sudden
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suddenly
Describes an event or action that happens suddenly and without warning or any recognizable transition.
Unvermittelt stand ein Reh auf der Straße und ich musste stark bremsen.
Suddenly, a deer was standing in the road, and I had to brake hard.
The word consists of 'un-' (not) and 'vermittelt' (mediated/connected). 'Vermitteln' means to create a connection. So 'unvermittelt' (suddenly/abruptly) describes something that happens without transition or connection.
Die Landschaft änderte sich unvermittelt von grünen Wiesen zu karger Wüste.
The landscape changed abruptly from green meadows to barren desert.
'Unvermittelt' (suddenly/abruptly) is used as an adverb and often stands at the beginning of the sentence in position 1. In this case, the verb follows directly after it. It can also stand in the middle of the sentence to describe the verb.
Unvermittelt fragte er mich nach meiner Meinung.
Suddenly, he asked me for my opinion.
This word belongs more to written language or an elevated style. It is used less often in everyday conversation.
Der Roman endet unvermittelt und lässt viele Fragen offen.
The novel ends abruptly and leaves many questions unanswered.
once
'auf einmal' and 'unvermittelt' both describe something happening suddenly. 'auf einmal' is the normal, everyday expression when a situation changes quickly. 'unvermittelt' sounds somewhat more formal and emphasizes that there was no clear transition or warning. It often fits with actions such as speaking, stopping, or appearing. In many everyday sentences, 'auf einmal' is more natural, while 'unvermittelt' feels more precise when the lack of preparation is important.
In der Besprechung stellte Herr Schneider unvermittelt eine sehr persönliche Frage.
In the meeting, Mr. Schneider suddenly asked a very personal question.
Auf einmal stand die Mitarbeiterin vor der Tür.
All at once, the employee was standing at the door.