genau

/ɡəˈnaʊ̯/

adjective, adverb A1

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

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

adje Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Core Domain General Tone Neutral
Word fingerprint: Register: neutral. Era: current. Frequency: core. Domain: general. Connotation: neutral.

Meaning

  1. exact, precise, accurate

  2. exactly, precisely

    As an adverb, often with a number or a point in time.

    • Der Zug kommt genau um acht.

      The train arrives at eight exactly.

    • Das ist genau das, was ich gesucht habe.

      That is exactly what I was looking for.

  3. exactly!, that's right!

    spoken, standing alone

    On its own, Genau! is one of the most common ways to agree in spoken German.

Similar words

recht

Close synonyms for "exact, right."

richtig

Close synonyms for "exact, right, correct."

Similar in other languages

English

precise

precise is the English word for the same thing — both mean "exact, precise."

Portuguese

certo

genau emphasizes precision, while Portuguese certo just means correct or right, without implying that same exactness.

Practice

1 What does genau mean?

2 Which fingerprint chart matches genau?

Synonyms

  • exakt
  • präzise
  • akkurat

Opposites

  • ungenau
  • ungefähr

See also

commonagreementparticle-like

Last updated