'Plötzlich' Definition

What is the meaning of the German word 'Plötzlich'?

Home > German Language > What is the meaning of Plötzlich?

The word 'Plötzlich' is a German word that can mean various things in English, such as 'Suddenly' or 'Suddenly'. Below are a few of the different meanings of the word 'Plötzlich', with examples sentences to help you understand how to use the word in context.

Definitions of 'Plötzlich' in English

Plötzlich - Sudden

adverb

The adverb 'plötzlich' means 'suddenly' in German, indicating an abrupt or unexpected event or change.

Example Sentences:

💡 Silly memory trick! 'Plötzlich' sounds like 'plot twist.' This association can help you remember that it describes something unexpected or sudden.

Plötzlich - Sudden

adjective

The adjective 'Plötzlich' means 'sudden' or 'suddenly' in English. It is used to describe an unexpected or abrupt occurrence.

Example Sentences:

  • Plötzlich sieht Max eine Katze. - Suddenly Max sees a cat.

💡 Silly memory trick! 'Plötzlich' sounds like 'plot twist.' This association can help you remember that it describes a sudden or unexpected event.

German Challenges

Intermediate

Which auxiliary verb correctly completes the sentence to fit the context given?

Sie sind gestern sehr schnell gewachsen.

Reset answer
You answered correctly!
'Wachsen' indicates a change of state (to grow) which typically requires 'sein' as the auxiliary verb in past tenses. Hence, 'Sie sind gestern sehr schnell gewachsen' (They grew very quickly yesterday) is the correct sentence. 'Haben' could be used with 'wachsen' in certain dialects or colloquial usage, but is generally considered less standard. Mastering the appropriate usage of 'haben' and 'sein' enhances the precision of expressing states and actions in the German language.
Explore these topics to learn more!
View Full Challenge
Beginner

Conjugate the modal verb "müssen" to fit the sentence below

Sie müssen das Buch lesen, es ist unglaublich.

Reset answer
You answered incorrectly.
The correct form for 'müssen' in the third person formal or plural is 'müssen'. For the sentence "Sie müssen das Buch lesen, es ist unglaublich.", the full translation is "You have to (must) read the book, it is incredible"
Explore these topics to learn more!
View Full Challenge
Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "warten" to mean "to wait for"?

Peter hat auf seine Freundin gewartet.

Reset answer
You answered correctly!
The correct preposition to use with "warten" to convey the meaning of "to wait for" is "auf", making the expression "warten auf". The sentence "Peter hat auf seine Freundin gewartet" means "Peter waited for his girlfriend." The other prepositions cannot be used to express the act of waiting for someone. Did you know? Prepositions in German can change the case of the noun that follows them. In the case of "warten auf", the preposition "auf" requires the noun to be in the accusative case.
Explore these topics to learn more!
View Full Challenge
Beginner

Conjugate the modal verb "sollen" to fit the sentence

Du sollst deine Hausaufgaben machen.

Reset answer
You answered correctly!
The correct form for 'sollen' in the second person singular is 'sollst'. The full sentence translates to "You should do your homework".
Explore these topics to learn more!
View Full Challenge
Advanced

Which word best completes the sentence to mean 'supplies'?

Es ist wichtig, genügend Vorräte für den langen Winter zu haben.

Reset answer
You answered incorrectly.
In this context, 'Vorräte' is the plural form of the noun 'Vorrat', which means 'supplies' or 'provisions' in English. This noun is commonly used to refer to food, drink, or other necessary items for survival or specific purposes, and it often implies a state of preparedness or readiness for a future event or period of time. The other options are either singular ('Vorrat') or decline incorrectly in the plural ('Vorräten', 'Vorrätes') according to the rules of German grammar.
View Full Challenge
Beginner

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the possessive pronoun 'mein' in the genitive case.

Das ist das Haus meiner Schwester.

Reset answer
You answered incorrectly.
The genitive case form of the possessive pronoun 'mein' (my) corresponding to a feminine noun is 'meiner'. In the sentence, "Das ist das Haus meiner Schwester," the word 'meiner' is showcasing possession, translating to 'That is the house of my sister' in English.
Explore these topics to learn more!
View Full Challenge
Intermediate

Which word best completes the sentence to mean 'little'?

Er hat nur wenig Geld in seiner Tasche.

Reset answer
You answered correctly!
In this context, 'wenig' is used as a pronoun that means 'little' in English. The word 'wenig' does not change based on declination in this context. When used with countable objects in a negative context, 'wenig' typically indicates a smaller than expected quantity. The other options are grammatically incorrect declinations of 'wenig' and do not fit in this particular sentence.
Explore these topics to learn more!
View Full Challenge
Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "liegen" in this sentence?

Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch

Reset answer
You answered correctly!
The correct preposition to use with "liegen" is "auf", making the expression "liegen auf". The sentence "Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch" means "The book is on the table". Did you know? Prepositions in German can change the case of the noun that follows them. In the case of "liegen auf", the preposition "auf" requires the noun to be in the dative case.
Explore these topics to learn more!
View Full Challenge
Beginner

Which coordinating conjunction fits best in this sentence?

Ich konnte nicht schlafen, denn ich hatte viel Kaffee getrunken.

Reset answer
You answered incorrectly.
The coordinating conjunction 'denn' is used to give an explanation or reason for a stated fact or action. Therefore, in this context 'denn' is the best fit as it explains why the person couldn't sleep (because they had a lot of coffee).
Explore these topics to learn more!
View Full Challenge
Beginner

What is the correct form of the definite article "the" in the dative case for a Feminine noun.

Ich helfe der Frau

Reset answer
You answered correctly!
In German, the dative case form of the feminine article "die" is "der." For example, in the sentence "Ich helfe der Frau," which translates to "I help the woman" in English, the word "Frau" (woman) is in the dative case as the indirect object of the verb "helfen" (to help), so the article changes from "die" to "der."
Explore these topics to learn more!
View Full Challenge

Track your progress, get daily alerts!

Simply provide your email address to keep track of your answers, and optionally receive daily alerts for new challenges.