temporär
/tɛmpoˈʁɛːɐ̯/
The English adverb "temporarily" can be translated into German using temporär, zeitweise or the phrase zeitlich begrenzt.
Meaning: for a limited period of time (adv)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| temporär | /tɛmpoˈʁɛːɐ̯/ /tɛmpoˈʁeːɐ̯/ |
| zeitweise | /ˈt͡saɪ̯tˌvaɪ̯.zə/ |
Use these words when discussing a state or event that lasts for a limited period.
Which one should you use?
temporär is often used in formal, technical or administrative contexts to describe something that is temporary by nature or status. In contrast, zeitweise is more commonly used to describe an event or state that occurs intermittently or for certain periods during a larger timeframe. For a more formal way to express 'temporarily' in German, emphasizing a time-limited aspect, you can use the phrase zeitlich begrenzt.
How does it change in a sentence?
While temporär is listed as an adverb in the source, it is most frequently used as an adjective in German (e.g., eine temporäre Lösung – a temporary solution).
How do you pronounce it?
/tɛmpoˈʁɛːɐ̯/
Did you know?
- While temporär describes things that are short-term, German uses the word vergänglich for the 'temporary' nature of youth, beauty or life, emphasizing that these things are destined to fade.
- The German word Zeit is a cognate of the English word 'tide'. In Old English, 'tide' referred to a point in time, which survives in terms like 'Yuletide'.
- In professional or legal settings, a 'temporary' contract or appointment is called befristet, which literally means 'limited by a deadline'.
Examples in context
- Die Ölversorgung war zeitweise eingestellt wegen Kämpfen in dieser Region.Because of fighting in the region, the oil supply was temporarily cut off.This sentence is useful for showing how to use zeitweise to describe an interrupted supply.Tatoeba #1927547 by Tamy, translation #45144 by CK
- Unser Geschäft wird vorübergehend geschlossen sein.Our store will be temporarily closed.
- Er war hier zeitlich begrenzt angestellt.He was temporarily employed here.
- Ich bin mal kurz weg.I'll be gone for a moment.
- Das reicht für den Moment.That will do for now.
- Wir haben provisorisch eine Lösung gefunden.We have temporarily found a solution.
- Wir haben übergangsweise eine Vertretung.We have a temporary replacement for now.
- Die Straße ist temporär gesperrt.The street is temporarily closed.
- Wir suchen eine temporär verfügbare Lösung.We are looking for a temporarily available solution.
Example conversation
Laura and Maximilian are discussing a technical problem at work.
- LauraDie Webseite funktioniert gerade nicht.The website is not working right now.
- MaximilianDas System ist temporär außer Betrieb.The system is temporarily out of order.
- LauraWann ist es wieder online?When will it be online again?
- MaximilianWahrscheinlich in einer Stunde, Laura.Probably in an hour, Laura.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “temporarily” translations and entries temporär, zeitweise, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
