See also: Etwas

German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old High German eddeshwaz, from edde- +‎ hwaz (edde- = some, hwaz = what). Compare Icelandic eitthvað, Dutch ietwat.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɛtvas/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio (Austria); [ˈɛ̝tʰˑʋɑs]:(file)
  • Rhymes: -as

Pronoun

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etwas

  1. something

Usage notes

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  • When followed by a relative clause, neuter indefinite pronouns generally take was instead of das in the nominative and accusative. For euphonic reasons, however, etwas is predominantly construed with das, unless there is an intervening adjective (in which case the tendency is reverse):
etwas, das (less commonly: was) mich störtsomething that bothers me
etwas Lustiges, was (less commonly: das) ich gehört habesomething funny that I’ve heard

Adverb

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etwas

  1. somewhat, slightly
  2. a little, a bit

Determiner

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etwas

  1. (with uncountable or plural noun) some, a bit of
    Hab etwas Respekt vor den Toten.
    Have some respect for the dead.
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See also

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Further reading

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  • etwas” in Duden online
  • etwas” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache