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wortwörtlich
literal
Corresponding exactly to the words; letter-perfect and without any deviation or interpretation.
example
Er zitierte den Satz wortwörtlich aus dem Buch.
He quoted the sentence literally from the book.
wortwörtlich
literal / literally
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
'Wortwörtlich' (literal / literally) is a compound made up of 'Wort' (word) and 'wörtlich' (literal). Since 'wörtlich' already means 'corresponding to the word,' it is an intensifying repetition that emphasizes that something is meant absolutely exactly that way.
EXAMPLE
Bitte fassen Sie den Text nicht nur zusammen, sondern übersetzen Sie ihn wortwörtlich.
Please don't just summarize the text; translate it literally.
Adjective and adverb
'Wortwörtlich' (literal / literally) can stand as an adjective before a noun or as an adverb referring to a verb or the whole sentence. As an adverb, it is very common.
EXAMPLE
Das ist eine wortwörtliche Abschrift des Originals.
This is a literal copy of the original.
Typical collocations
In its basic meaning, 'wortwörtlich' (literal / literally) is often used with verbs such as 'nehmen' (to take), 'verstehen' (to understand), 'zitieren' (to quote), or 'übersetzen' (to translate).
EXAMPLE
Man sollte nicht jede Redewendung wortwörtlich nehmen.
You shouldn't take every idiom literally.
Colloquial intensifier
In colloquial language, 'wortwörtlich' (literally) is often used to emphasize a metaphor or a strong statement. It underlines that something did not just happen figuratively, but actually happened.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Lauf war ich wortwörtlich am Ende meiner Kräfte.
After the long run, I was literally at the end of my strength.
Compare with
wortwörtlich vs wirklich
really
'wirklich' and 'wortwörtlich' can both make a statement stronger and show that something is meant seriously. 'wirklich' generally means that something is actually so, or that you are emphasizing something. 'wortwörtlich' means more precisely that something applies exactly according to the words, without free interpretation. In colloquial speech, 'wortwörtlich' is also used to say: it was not meant only figuratively. Learners may confuse the words because both can express 'really like that'. As a simple rule: for normal confirmation, 'wirklich' usually fits; for exact wording or non-figurative meaning, 'wortwörtlich' is better.
wortwörtlich
Sie hat den Satz beim Termin wortwörtlich wiederholt.
She repeated the sentence word for word at the appointment.
wirklich
Nach der Nachricht warst du im Büro wirklich überrascht.
After the news, you were really surprised at the office.
In real life
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