nämlich

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German

Etymology

From Name (name) +‎ -lich (-ly).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈnɛːmlɪç/ (standard; used naturally in western Germany and Switzerland)
  • IPA(key): /ˈneːmlɪç/ (overall more common; particularly northern and eastern regions)
  • IPA(key): /ˈnɛm(l)ɪç/ (colloquial)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: näm‧lich

Adjective

nämlich (strong nominative masculine singular nämlicher, not comparable)

  1. same, either the same object or sometimes just the same type of object

Declension

Derived terms

Adverb

nämlich

  1. namely
  2. because (put after the conjugated verb, rather than at the beginning of the clause)
    Ich hab morgen keine Zeit, ich hab nämlich einen Termin.
    I don’t have time tomorrow, I have an appointment (because I have an appointment).

Further reading

  • nämlich” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • nämlich” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • nämlich” in Duden online