German

Suffix

-erweise

1. forms adverbs from adjectives; these adverbs are used to modify phrases or sentences

   normal ‎(“normal”) + ‎-erweise → ‎normalerweise ‎(“normally”)

   traurig ‎(“sad”) + ‎-erweise → ‎traurigerweise ‎(“sadly”)

   lustig ‎(“funny”) + ‎-erweise → ‎lustigerweise ‎(“funnily”)

Usage notes

• A normal German adverb, which modifies verbs, nouns, adjectives, or (other) adverbs, takes the basic form of the respective adjective from which it is derived. Only when an adverb refers to a whole phrase or sentence does it take the ending -erweise. The distinction may be semantic. Compare:

  • Er hat lustig gesungen. − “He sang funnily.” (He sang in a way that was funny.)
  • Er hat lustigerweise gesungen. − “Funnily, he sang.” (It was funny that he sang.)

• Besides spellings like lustigerweise there are also spellings like lustiger Weise composed of an adjective and the substantive Weise.

See also

• -weise