Polyglot Dictionary

eben

/ˈeːbn̩/

adverb B1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Adv Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Common Domain General Tone Neutral

Meaning

  1. just, just now

    • Ich habe ihn eben gesehen.

      I just saw him.

  2. precisely, exactly (used to concede or confirm a point)

    In this use, eben softly confirms what was just said, similar to "that's just how it is."

    • Das ist eben so.

      That's just how it is.

Similar words

soeben

eben is the everyday word for "just now"; soeben is a more formal/written alternative, common in news reports.

vorhin

eben means "just now," very close to the present moment; vorhin points to a specific, slightly earlier moment in the same day.

Similar in other languages

Spanish

precisamente

Close — "just, just now" relates to precisely.

French

à l'instant

Close — "just, just now" relates to "just now."

Practice

1 What does eben mean?

2 Fill the gap: Ich habe ihn ___ gesehen.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches eben?

adverbtwo-meanings

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