Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ziemlich | /ˈtsiːmlɪç/ /ˈtsɪm(l)ɪç/ |
|
| halbwegs | ||
| einigermaßen | ||
| recht | /ʁɛçt/ (Germany) /rɛçt/ (Austria, Switzerland) |
colloquial |
These words are used to express that something is true to a moderate extent. In informal speech, you may also use wirklich to convey the meaning of 'quite' or the colloquial echt to mean 'quite' or 'really'.
Which one should you use?
While ziemlich is the standard, most common way to express 'quite' or 'fairly' in a neutral sense, other forms carry different nuances. halbwegs implies something is 'halfway', 'somewhat' or 'passable', often carrying a slightly negative or mediocre connotation that suggests something is merely 'just okay'. einigermaßen is used to express that something is 'reasonably' or 'moderately' the case, frequently describing a level of competence or a state of affairs.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form recht is used colloquially to mean 'quite' or 'rather' when modifying adjectives. In informal situations, you can also use wirklich or echt.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtsiːmlɪç/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the adverbial use of recht (meaning 'quite') with its use as an adjective or noun meaning 'right' or 'correct', as they are identical in spelling.
Did you know?
- The word ziemlich originally meant 'befitting' or 'proper' in Old High German, rather than describing a level of quantity.
- While ziemlich is neutral, halbwegs often signals a hidden dissatisfaction, suggesting something is merely 'passable'.
Examples in context
- Tom ist recht jung.Tom is quite young.This sentence uses recht to describe someone's age.Tatoeba #3403921 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3402261 by CK
- Er hat völlig recht.He is quite right.This sentence uses recht to indicate someone is correct.Tatoeba #632459 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #286046 by CK
- Er ist ziemlich gut.He's quite good.This sentence uses ziemlich to describe someone's quality.Tatoeba #1684006 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #8480344 by CH
- Das Konzert war ziemlich lautThe concert was quite loud
- Der Film war recht gutThe movie was quite good
- Es war ziemlich kalt heuteIt was quite cold today
- Das war echt lustigThat was quite funny
- Das Auto ist wirklich teuerThe car is quite expensive
- Der Kuchen schmeckt ziemlich gut.The cake tastes quite good.
- Heute habe ich wirklich viel zu tun gehabt.Today I was quite busy.
- Es ist recht kalt draußen.It's quite cold outside.
- Das Essen war ganz gutThe food was quite good
- 587 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing the quality of a new restaurant.
- JulianWie war das Essen dort?How was the food there?
- SarahEs war ziemlich lecker.It was quite delicious.
- JulianWar es auch teuer?Was it also expensive?
- SarahNein, es war preiswert.No, it was reasonably priced.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quite” translations and entries ziemlich, halbwegs, einigermaßen, recht, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries halbwegs, recht, ziemlich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
