"wohl" meaning in German

See wohl in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adverb

IPA: /voːl/ Audio: De-wohl.ogg , De-wohl2.ogg
Rhymes: -oːl Etymology: From Middle High German wol, wole, from Old High German wola (“well”), from Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Compare Dutch wel, English well, Danish vel, Swedish väl. Etymology templates: {{inh|de|gmh|wol}} Middle High German wol, {{m|gmh|wole}} wole, {{inh|de|goh|wola||well}} Old High German wola (“well”), {{inh|de|gem-pro|*wela}} Proto-Germanic *wela, {{der|de|ine-pro|*welh₁-}} Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-, {{cog|nl|wel}} Dutch wel, {{cog|en|well}} English well, {{cog|da|vel}} Danish vel, {{cog|sv|väl}} Swedish väl Head templates: {{head|de|adverb||||am {{{2}}}|head=|sort=}} wohl, {{de-adv}} wohl
  1. possibly, probably; as I was told (modal particle expressing an assumption, often like English must + infinitive, or (US) guess + clause)
    Sense id: en-wohl-de-adv-rSdhrd8w Categories (other): German entries with incorrect language header, German modal particles Disambiguation of German entries with incorrect language header: 23 25 23 2 27 Disambiguation of German modal particles: 28 31 29 1 10
  2. of course, indeed (modal particle adding stress to the statement to contradict a preceding one, often like English do + infinitive)
    Sense id: en-wohl-de-adv-uHLtDXZu Categories (other): German entries with incorrect language header, German modal particles Disambiguation of German entries with incorrect language header: 23 25 23 2 27 Disambiguation of German modal particles: 28 31 29 1 10
  3. (regional, north-western Germany) actually, somehow, quite (modal particle making the statement weaker or expressing a concession) Tags: regional
    Sense id: en-wohl-de-adv-QvpJV5Z8 Categories (other): Regional German, German entries with incorrect language header, German modal particles Disambiguation of German entries with incorrect language header: 23 25 23 2 27 Disambiguation of German modal particles: 28 31 29 1 10
  4. (mostly elevated) well, very well Tags: honorific Synonyms (well): gut
    Sense id: en-wohl-de-adv-5uYTILIe Disambiguation of 'well': 0 0 0 100 0
  5. (regional in Austria, South Tyrol, in response to a negative question or statement) yes; surely; really; on the contrary Tags: regional Synonyms (yes): doch
    Sense id: en-wohl-de-adv-JVhBRVNC Categories (other): Austrian German, Regional German, South Tyrolean German, German entries with incorrect language header, German modal particles Disambiguation of German entries with incorrect language header: 23 25 23 2 27 Disambiguation of German modal particles: 28 31 29 1 10 Disambiguation of 'yes': 2 9 2 7 80
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms: vermutlich [possibly], scheint’s, oja, woll (english: colloquial; otherwise obsolete) [regional], wol [obsolete] Derived forms: Wohl, Wohlbefinden Related terms: jawohl, Lebewohl, sowohl, unwohl

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for wohl meaning in German (7.5kB)

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "Wohl"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "Wohlbefinden"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "gmh",
        "3": "wol"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle High German wol",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "gmh",
        "2": "wole"
      },
      "expansion": "wole",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "goh",
        "3": "wola",
        "4": "",
        "5": "well"
      },
      "expansion": "Old High German wola (“well”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*wela"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *wela",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*welh₁-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "wel"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch wel",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "well"
      },
      "expansion": "English well",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "da",
        "2": "vel"
      },
      "expansion": "Danish vel",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "väl"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish väl",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle High German wol, wole, from Old High German wola (“well”), from Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Compare Dutch wel, English well, Danish vel, Swedish väl.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "adverb",
        "3": "",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "6": "am {{{2}}}",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "wohl",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "wohl",
      "name": "de-adv"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "German",
  "lang_code": "de",
  "pos": "adv",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "jawohl"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "Lebewohl"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "sowohl"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "unwohl"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "23 25 23 2 27",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "German entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 31 29 1 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "German modal particles",
          "parents": [
            "Modal particles",
            "Particles",
            "Lemmas"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "He must have left already. / I guess he has left already.",
          "text": "Er ist wohl schon gegangen.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "english": "[I heard that] his wife is some well-known doctor.",
          "text": "Seine Frau ist wohl irgendeine bekannte Ärztin.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "english": "What does that mean, though?",
          "text": "Was das wohl zu bedeuten hat?",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "possibly, probably; as I was told (modal particle expressing an assumption, often like English must + infinitive, or (US) guess + clause)"
      ],
      "id": "en-wohl-de-adv-rSdhrd8w",
      "links": [
        [
          "possibly",
          "possibly"
        ],
        [
          "probably",
          "probably"
        ],
        [
          "modal particle",
          "modal particle#English"
        ],
        [
          "must",
          "must#English"
        ],
        [
          "guess",
          "guess#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "23 25 23 2 27",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "German entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 31 29 1 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "German modal particles",
          "parents": [
            "Modal particles",
            "Particles",
            "Lemmas"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Du warst ja noch nie in Frankreich. − Ich war wohl schon in Frankreich! ― \"Since you've never been to France...\" − \"Of course I've been to France!\"",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "Ich kann's dir nicht sagen, weil ich's nicht weiß. − Du weißt es ja wohl! ― \"I can't tell you because I don't know.\" − \"But you do know!\"",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "of course, indeed (modal particle adding stress to the statement to contradict a preceding one, often like English do + infinitive)"
      ],
      "id": "en-wohl-de-adv-uHLtDXZu",
      "links": [
        [
          "of course",
          "of course"
        ],
        [
          "indeed",
          "indeed"
        ],
        [
          "do",
          "do#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Regional German",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 25 23 2 27",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "German entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 31 29 1 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "German modal particles",
          "parents": [
            "Modal particles",
            "Particles",
            "Lemmas"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "\"Why are you all complaining about the soup? I don't find it all that bad, actually.\"",
          "text": "Was habt ihr denn alle mit der Suppe? Ich find die wohl nicht schlecht.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "actually, somehow, quite (modal particle making the statement weaker or expressing a concession)"
      ],
      "id": "en-wohl-de-adv-QvpJV5Z8",
      "links": [
        [
          "regional",
          "regional#English"
        ],
        [
          "actually",
          "actually"
        ],
        [
          "somehow",
          "somehow"
        ],
        [
          "quite",
          "quite"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "north-western Germany",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(regional, north-western Germany) actually, somehow, quite (modal particle making the statement weaker or expressing a concession)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "regional"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "\"Ye have spoken well, my lord!\"",
          "text": "Ihr habt wohl gesprochen, mein Herr!",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "well, very well"
      ],
      "id": "en-wohl-de-adv-5uYTILIe",
      "links": [
        [
          "well",
          "well"
        ],
        [
          "very well",
          "very well"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mostly elevated) well, very well"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 0 100 0",
          "sense": "well",
          "word": "gut"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "honorific"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Austrian German",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Regional German",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "South Tyrolean German",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 25 23 2 27",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "German entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 31 29 1 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "German modal particles",
          "parents": [
            "Modal particles",
            "Particles",
            "Lemmas"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Das stimmt nicht. — Wohl! ― That's not correct. — Yes, it is!",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "Kommst du heute Abend nicht? — Wohl! ― Aren't you coming tonight?? — Yes, I am!",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "yes; surely; really; on the contrary"
      ],
      "id": "en-wohl-de-adv-JVhBRVNC",
      "links": [
        [
          "regional",
          "regional#English"
        ],
        [
          "yes",
          "yes"
        ],
        [
          "surely",
          "surely"
        ],
        [
          "really",
          "really"
        ],
        [
          "contrary",
          "contrary"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "South Tyrol",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(regional in Austria, South Tyrol, in response to a negative question or statement) yes; surely; really; on the contrary"
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "in Austria",
        "in response to a negative question or statement",
        "in Austria",
        "in response to a negative question or statement"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "2 9 2 7 80",
          "sense": "yes",
          "word": "doch"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "regional"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/voːl/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-oːl"
    },
    {
      "audio": "De-wohl.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/De-wohl.ogg/De-wohl.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/De-wohl.ogg",
      "text": "Audio"
    },
    {
      "audio": "De-wohl2.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9c/De-wohl2.ogg/De-wohl2.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/De-wohl2.ogg",
      "text": "Audio"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "tags": [
        "possibly"
      ],
      "word": "vermutlich"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "scheint’s"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "oja"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "english": "colloquial; otherwise obsolete",
      "tags": [
        "regional"
      ],
      "word": "woll"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ],
      "word": "wol"
    }
  ],
  "word": "wohl"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "German 1-syllable words",
    "German adverbs",
    "German entries with incorrect language header",
    "German lemmas",
    "German modal particles",
    "German terms derived from Middle High German",
    "German terms derived from Old High German",
    "German terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "German terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "German terms inherited from Middle High German",
    "German terms inherited from Old High German",
    "German terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "German terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "German terms with audio links",
    "Rhymes:German/oːl"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "Wohl"
    },
    {
      "word": "Wohlbefinden"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "gmh",
        "3": "wol"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle High German wol",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "gmh",
        "2": "wole"
      },
      "expansion": "wole",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "goh",
        "3": "wola",
        "4": "",
        "5": "well"
      },
      "expansion": "Old High German wola (“well”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*wela"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *wela",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*welh₁-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "wel"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch wel",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "well"
      },
      "expansion": "English well",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "da",
        "2": "vel"
      },
      "expansion": "Danish vel",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "väl"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish väl",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle High German wol, wole, from Old High German wola (“well”), from Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Compare Dutch wel, English well, Danish vel, Swedish väl.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "adverb",
        "3": "",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "6": "am {{{2}}}",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "wohl",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "wohl",
      "name": "de-adv"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "German",
  "lang_code": "de",
  "pos": "adv",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "jawohl"
    },
    {
      "word": "Lebewohl"
    },
    {
      "word": "sowohl"
    },
    {
      "word": "unwohl"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "German terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "He must have left already. / I guess he has left already.",
          "text": "Er ist wohl schon gegangen.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "english": "[I heard that] his wife is some well-known doctor.",
          "text": "Seine Frau ist wohl irgendeine bekannte Ärztin.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "english": "What does that mean, though?",
          "text": "Was das wohl zu bedeuten hat?",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "possibly, probably; as I was told (modal particle expressing an assumption, often like English must + infinitive, or (US) guess + clause)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "possibly",
          "possibly"
        ],
        [
          "probably",
          "probably"
        ],
        [
          "modal particle",
          "modal particle#English"
        ],
        [
          "must",
          "must#English"
        ],
        [
          "guess",
          "guess#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "German terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Du warst ja noch nie in Frankreich. − Ich war wohl schon in Frankreich! ― \"Since you've never been to France...\" − \"Of course I've been to France!\"",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "Ich kann's dir nicht sagen, weil ich's nicht weiß. − Du weißt es ja wohl! ― \"I can't tell you because I don't know.\" − \"But you do know!\"",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "of course, indeed (modal particle adding stress to the statement to contradict a preceding one, often like English do + infinitive)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "of course",
          "of course"
        ],
        [
          "indeed",
          "indeed"
        ],
        [
          "do",
          "do#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "German terms with usage examples",
        "Regional German"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "\"Why are you all complaining about the soup? I don't find it all that bad, actually.\"",
          "text": "Was habt ihr denn alle mit der Suppe? Ich find die wohl nicht schlecht.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "actually, somehow, quite (modal particle making the statement weaker or expressing a concession)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "regional",
          "regional#English"
        ],
        [
          "actually",
          "actually"
        ],
        [
          "somehow",
          "somehow"
        ],
        [
          "quite",
          "quite"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "north-western Germany",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(regional, north-western Germany) actually, somehow, quite (modal particle making the statement weaker or expressing a concession)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "regional"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "German terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "\"Ye have spoken well, my lord!\"",
          "text": "Ihr habt wohl gesprochen, mein Herr!",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "well, very well"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "well",
          "well"
        ],
        [
          "very well",
          "very well"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mostly elevated) well, very well"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "honorific"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Austrian German",
        "German terms with usage examples",
        "Regional German",
        "South Tyrolean German"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Das stimmt nicht. — Wohl! ― That's not correct. — Yes, it is!",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "Kommst du heute Abend nicht? — Wohl! ― Aren't you coming tonight?? — Yes, I am!",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "yes; surely; really; on the contrary"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "regional",
          "regional#English"
        ],
        [
          "yes",
          "yes"
        ],
        [
          "surely",
          "surely"
        ],
        [
          "really",
          "really"
        ],
        [
          "contrary",
          "contrary"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "South Tyrol",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(regional in Austria, South Tyrol, in response to a negative question or statement) yes; surely; really; on the contrary"
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "in Austria",
        "in response to a negative question or statement",
        "in Austria",
        "in response to a negative question or statement"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "regional"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/voːl/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-oːl"
    },
    {
      "audio": "De-wohl.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/De-wohl.ogg/De-wohl.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/De-wohl.ogg",
      "text": "Audio"
    },
    {
      "audio": "De-wohl2.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9c/De-wohl2.ogg/De-wohl2.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/De-wohl2.ogg",
      "text": "Audio"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "possibly"
      ],
      "word": "vermutlich"
    },
    {
      "word": "scheint’s"
    },
    {
      "sense": "well",
      "word": "gut"
    },
    {
      "sense": "yes",
      "word": "doch"
    },
    {
      "word": "oja"
    },
    {
      "english": "colloquial; otherwise obsolete",
      "tags": [
        "regional"
      ],
      "word": "woll"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ],
      "word": "wol"
    }
  ],
  "word": "wohl"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable German dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-22 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (fc4f0c7 and c937495). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.