German

Pronoun

einander

1. each other

   Sie unterstützten einander, so gut sie konnten.

   They supported each other as much as they could.

Usage notes

• Prepositions are prefixed to the pronoun, thus “with each other” becomes miteinander. The spelling mit einander is not unfrequently seen, but is incorrect according to some.
• As opposed to English grammar, German einander is only obligatory after prepositions, or when the reciprocity of the action is not evident from the context:

Sie haben miteinander getanzt. – They danced with each other.

Sie haben einander gewaschen. – They washed each other.

• Otherwise it is common practice to use reflexive pronouns instead. Although not wrong, it would be quite formal (and occasionally even awkward) to use einander where it is not needed.

Sie gaben sich die Hand. – They shook each other's hand. (Literally: They gave themselves the hand.)

Wir trafen uns in der Kneipe. – We met each other at the pub. (Literally: We met us at the pub.)

• In colloquial German, einander is generally used with prepositions only. Otherwise, the adverb gegenseitig ‎(“mutually”) is added to accentuate reciprocity. This usage is also correct in standard German proper, but not quite as frequent as in the vernacular.

Sie haben sich gegenseitig gewaschen. – They washed each other. (Literally: They have washed themselves mutually.)

Derived terms

References

1. ↑ Wolfgang Pfeifer, et al., Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen, 8th edition, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag (2005), ISBN 3-423-32511-9, page 268.