Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| insgesamt | /ˈɪnsɡəˌzamt/ |
| alles zusammengenommen |
When you want to say 'overall' in the sense of 'generally', you can use insgesamt or alles zusammengenommen. If you want to express a generalization or an overall perspective formally, you might also use generell. To provide a concise summary or overview in a formal context, the word zusammenfassend is appropriate. Additionally, the phrase im Allgemeinen is used to mean 'in general'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word insgesamt is composed of in (in) and gesamt (whole/total).
Which one should you use?
Insgesamt is a concise way to express the idea of 'overall'. In contrast, alles zusammengenommen is a more idiomatic and slightly more descriptive way to say 'all things considered' or 'taken together' when you are summarizing a complex situation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The prefix Gesamt- can be added to other words to indicate an overall result.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɪnsɡəˌzamt/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the English word Overall to mean 'generally' in German. In German, Overall (or Latzhose) refers to a piece of clothing such as a jumpsuit or coveralls.
Did you know?
- If you tell a German colleague that your 'Overall' is good, they might think you are complimenting their jumpsuit rather than their general performance.
- The word alles in the phrase alles zusammengenommen shares a common ancestor with the English word 'all' and the Gothic word allata.
- The word Latzhose is often used to describe the same type of one-piece clothing as an 'overall', but it specifically refers to trousers with a bib and braces.
Examples in context
- Insgesamt ist die türkische Sprache einfacher als die russische, die türkische Aussprache ist jedoch schwieriger.Overall, the Turkish language is easier than Russian, but Turkish pronunciation is more difficult.This sentence is useful for comparing the difficulty of languages using insgesamt.Tatoeba #13725041 by carlosalberto, translation #13725154 by carlosalberto
- Insgesamt gesehen war die Veranstaltung ein ErfolgOverall, the event was a success
- Generell lässt sich sagen, dass das Projekt erfolgreich abgeschlossen wurdeIn general, it can be said that the project was successfully completed
- Das Gesamtergebnis war beeindruckendThe overall result was impressive
- Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass die Ausstellung ein großer Erfolg warIn summary, it can be said that the exhibition was a great success
- Insgesamt war der Urlaub wirklich tollOverall, the vacation was really great
- Alles in allem war das Konzert fantastischAll in all, the concert was fantastic
- Im Großen und Ganzen hat sich die neue Regelung bewährtOverall, the new regulation has proven effective
- Insgesamt bin ich mit dem Service zufrieden.Overall, I am satisfied with the service.
- Das war insgesamt ein sehr schöner Abend.Overall, it was a very lovely evening.
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are discussing a recent restaurant visit.
- LukasWie war das Essen heute?How was the food today?
- LauraInsgesamt war es sehr lecker.Overall, it was very delicious.
- LukasWar die Bedienung auch gut?Was the service good too?
- LauraJa, die Bedienung war sehr freundlich.Yes, the service was very friendly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “overall” translations and entries insgesamt, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alles, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
