Frequency Adverbs

Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens, and they shape meaning by placing an action on a timeline from always to never. This guide goes through the common adverbs and how to use them in German.

Key Adverbs

Key adverbs give quick signals about frequency, and they typically appear near the verb or at the start of the sentence for emphasis. Each adverb is illustrated with a simple sentence.

German Word(s)	English Word(s)
immer	always
meistens	mostly
oft	often
manchmal	sometimes
selten	rarely
nie	never

German Example	English Translation
☝️ Ich gehe immer morgens ins Café.	I always go to the café in the morning.
✔️ Ich trinke meistens einen Filterkaffee.	I mostly drink a filter coffee.
🔄 Ich trinke oft einen Espresso.	I often have an espresso.
➖ Ich trinke manchmal Kaffee unterwegs.	I sometimes drink coffee on the go.
❓ Ich trinke selten Kaffee am Nachmittag.	I rarely drink coffee in the afternoon.
🚫 Ich trinke nie entkoffeinierten Kaffee.	I never drink decaffeinated coffee.

Placement

Adverbs of frequency usually come immediately before the main verb in German, or after a time-manner-place sequence when more natural. Placing an adverb at the very start adds emphasis.

More Adverbs

There are more nuanced adverbs that express approximate frequency or occasional repetition, useful for fine-tuning meaning in everyday speech. Each adverb is shown in a short example sentence.

German Word(s)	English Word(s)
regelmäßig	regularly
hin und wieder	now and then
ab und zu	from time to time
gelegentlich	occasionally
fast immer	almost always
kaum je	hardly ever

German Example	English Translation
🌅 Ich trinke früher Kaffee als gestern.	I drank coffee earlier than yesterday.
🌇 Ich trinke später Kaffee als sonst.	I drink coffee later than usual.
⏳ Ich trinke gerade meinen Cappuccino.	I am currently drinking my cappuccino.
🕑 Ich trinke oftmals Kaffee am Nachmittag.	I often drink coffee in the afternoon.
🔜 Ich trinke bald meinen nächsten Kaffee.	I will soon have my next coffee.
💤 Ich trinke gelegentlich entkoffeinierten Kaffee.	I occasionally drink decaf coffee.

Summary

Adverbs of frequency in German work similarly to English: they tell us how often an action occurs and typically sit before the main verb. Learning a handful of key adverbs lets you describe routines and habits clearly.

Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025