unzählig
countless
Describes such a large quantity of something that it cannot be counted or is very difficult to count; innumerable.
EXAMPLE
Am klaren Nachthimmel leuchteten unzählige Sterne.
Countless stars shone in the clear night sky.
unzählig
countless
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is easy to understand if you analyze its parts: the prefix 'un-' means 'not', and the stem 'zähl' comes from the verb 'zählen' (to count). So 'unzählig' literally means 'not countable'.
EXAMPLE
Es gibt unzählige Wege, um nach Rom zu kommen.
There are countless ways to get to Rome.
Typical collocations
'Unzählig' is often used to emphasize a large quantity. Common combinations are 'unzählige Male' (countless times), 'unzählige Menschen' (countless people), 'unzählige Möglichkeiten' (countless possibilities), or 'unzählige Beispiele' (countless examples).
EXAMPLE
Ich habe diesen Film schon unzählige Male gesehen.
I have seen this film countless times already.
Stylistic use
'Unzählig' is an expressive word. It does not just mean 'many'; it emphasizes that the quantity is so large that it is overwhelming or impossible to grasp.
EXAMPLE
Auf der Demonstration versammelten sich unzählige Menschen.
Countless people gathered at the demonstration.
Compare with
unzählig vs unendlich
infinite
Unendlich describes a quantity with no limit at all. Unzählig, by contrast, describes a very large quantity that is practically impossible to count, but does not necessarily have to be truly limitless. Use unendlich for a genuinely unlimited number and unzählig for a number that is simply too vast to keep track of.
unzählig
In der umfangreichen Sammlung gibt es unzählige verschiedene Zahlenrätsel.
The extensive collection contains countless different number puzzles.
unendlich
Theoretisch gibt es in dieser Zahlenfolge unendlich viele weitere Zahlen.
In theory, there are infinitely many more numbers in this sequence.
In real life
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