relatively / proportionate
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relatively
Used as an adverb to express that something is true relatively or comparatively in comparison with other things or with an expectation.
Für diese Jahreszeit ist es verhältnismäßig kalt.
For this time of year, it is relatively cold.
proportionate
Used as an adjective to express that something stands in an appropriate relation to something else; proportional.
Die Strafe muss verhältnismäßig zur Schwere der Tat sein.
The punishment must be proportionate to the seriousness of the offense.
The word is made up of 'Verhältnis' (relationship/ratio) and the ending '-mäßig' (-wise/-based). It literally means 'according to a relationship/ratio' and always expresses a reference or comparison to a norm or to another thing.
Für die kurze Zeit, die er lernt, macht er verhältnismäßig große Fortschritte.
For the short amount of time he has been studying, he is making relatively great progress.
'Verhältnismäßig' (relatively/proportionate) can be used as an adverb (relatively, comparatively) or as an adjective (appropriate, proportional). As an adverb it is not declined, but as an adjective before a noun it is.
Der Test war verhältnismäßig einfach. (Adverb)
The test was relatively easy. (Adverb)
When 'verhältnismäßig' (relatively) is used as an adverb, it always implies a comparison with an expectation or a norm. It means 'more/less than expected' or 'compared with usual circumstances.'
Es ist heute verhältnismäßig warm für einen Tag im Februar.
It is relatively warm today for a day in February.
In the meaning of 'appropriate' or 'proportional,' 'verhältnismäßig' (proportionate) is an important term in legal and administrative language. It describes that a measure must stand in an appropriate relation to the goal.
Der Polizeieinsatz wurde später als nicht verhältnismäßig kritisiert.
The police operation was later criticized as not proportionate.
relative / relatively
Relativ can generally soften a statement and mean, for example, “quite.” Verhältnismäßig more clearly emphasizes that something is judged against an expectation or against comparable cases. When the comparison standard is important, verhältnismäßig is usually a better fit.
Für einen so kurzen Einsatz war die Belastung verhältnismäßig hoch.
For such a short assignment, the workload was relatively high.
Ich fand die Belastung bei diesem Einsatz relativ hoch.
I found the workload on this assignment relatively high.
