Linking Words: iwwregens / allerdéngs / nämlech
Linking Words: Iwwregens, Allerdéngs, Nämlech
Small adverbs show how a sentence connects to the one before: iwwregens (by the way), allerdéngs (however), nämlech (you see, namely), souwisou (anyway).
How It Works
1. Iwwregens: by the way
Iwwregens brings in a new topic or a side remark. It is often first, followed by a comma: Iwwregens, wou mer grad vun dengem Papp schwätzen, wéi geet et him? The spelling iwweregens is equally official (see Accepted Spelling Variants).
2. Allerdéngs: however
Allerdéngs adds something that limits or contrasts with what came before: Si haten eng flott Vakanz, et huet allerdéngs vill gereent. (They had a lovely holiday, but it rained a lot.) Like trotzdeem, it is an adverb, not a conjunction. Like awer, it most often stands after the verb.
3. Nämlech: you see; namely
Nämlech has two uses:
- It gives the reason for what you just said: Du kanns mech gëschter net gesinn hunn, ech war nämlech am Ausland. In this use it never comes first. It stands after the verb.
- It introduces details: De Bus fiert dräimol am Dag, nämlech um zéng, um dräi an um fënnef Auer.
4. Souwisou: anyway
Souwisou says that something is true in any case: Mir brauchen net ze diskutéieren, ech ännere meng Meenung souwisou net!
5. Word order
These words are adverbs. When one of them comes first, the verb follows right after it (The Verb Comes Second): Allerdéngs huet et vill gereent. Only iwwregens is often set off by a comma before a full sentence.
Examples (6)
- Si haten eng flott Vakanz, et huet allerdéngs vill gereent.
They had a lovely holiday; it did rain a lot, though.
- Mir hate grouss Pläng, déi mer allerdéngs ni konnte realiséieren.
We had big plans, which we were never able to carry out, however.
- Du kanns mech gëschter net gesinn hunn, ech war nämlech am Ausland.
You can't have seen me yesterday. I was abroad, you see.
Nämlech gives the reason and stands after the verb.
- De Bus fiert dräimol am Dag, nämlech um zéng, um dräi an um fënnef Auer.
The bus runs three times a day, namely at ten, three and five o'clock.
- Iwwregens, wou mer grad vun dengem Papp schwätzen, wéi geet et him?
By the way, since we're talking about your dad, how is he?
- Mir brauchen net ze diskutéieren, ech ännere meng Meenung souwisou net!
We don't need to discuss it. I'm not changing my mind anyway!
Common Mistakes
Starting a sentence with nämlech to give a reason.
Ech kommen net mat. Nämlech ech si krank.Ech kommen net mat. Ech sinn nämlech krank.When nämlech gives a reason, it stands after the verb. Note that sinn keeps its n before nämlech.
Keeping the subject before the verb after a fronted allerdéngs.
Allerdéngs et huet vill gereent.Allerdéngs huet et vill gereent.Allerdéngs is an adverb, so it takes first place and the verb must come right after it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Linking Words: Iwwregens, Allerdéngs, Nämlech, learn Nevertheless: Trotzdeem.
Related Patterns
- mee / awerBut and However: Mee and Awer
Awer, like allerdéngs, adds a contrast inside the clause.
Level 3 - Small Words That Add Feeling: dach / jo / molSmall Words That Add Feeling: Dach, Jo, Mol
Particles such as dach and jo also add feeling and connect to the conversation.
Level 4 - dofir / alsoThat's Why: Dofir and Also
Dofir and also are adverbs that link cause and result.
Level 3 - The Verb Comes Second
A fronted adverb is followed directly by the verb.
Level 1 - Accepted Spelling Variants
Iwwregens and iwweregens are both official spellings.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice Linking Words: iwwregens / allerdéngs / nämlech in Bubblegum
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