der Wirrwarr
jumble
A complete jumble of things, thoughts, or information that is difficult to make sense of.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Umzug herrschte in der Wohnung ein völliger Wirrwarr.
After the move, the apartment was in complete disarray.
der Wirrwarr
jumble
der Wirrwarr, die Wirrwarre
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Wirrwarr, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Wirrwarre |
| genitive | des Wirrwarrs |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Wirrwarr | die Wirrwarre die Wirrwarrs |
| accusative | den Wirrwarr | die Wirrwarre die Wirrwarrs |
| dative | dem Wirrwarr | den Wirrwarren den Wirrwarrs |
| genitive | des Wirrwarrs der Wirrwarr | der Wirrwarre der Wirrwarrs |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Wirrwarr' contains the word 'wirr' (confused) and repeats its sound in a modified form. This repetition of sounds reinforces the impression of disorder and confusion.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Schreibtisch lag ein Wirrwarr aus Kabeln und Papieren.
There was a jumble of cables and papers on the desk.
Typical collocations
For disorganized situations, phrases such as 'Es herrscht ein völliger Wirrwarr' (There is complete chaos), 'ein Wirrwarr entsteht' (a jumble forms), and 'Ordnung in den Wirrwarr bringen' (to bring order to the jumble) are commonly used.
EXAMPLE
Die neue Leiterin brachte endlich Ordnung in den Wirrwarr der Zuständigkeiten.
The new manager finally brought order to the jumble of responsibilities.
In real life
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