Auf einmal
Example: Auf einmal begann es stark zu regnen.
Definition
"Auf einmal" is a German adverbial phrase meaning suddenly or all at once, used to describe an action or event happening abruptly without warning. For example, in the phrase 'Auf einmal begann es stark zu regnen,' it indicates that the rain started suddenly.
Etymology
The German phrase "auf einmal" literally translates to 'on one time.' It combines 'auf' meaning 'on' or 'upon' and 'einmal' meaning 'one time' or 'once.' This phrase evolved to express the idea of something happening immediately or all at once. Did you know that many German expressions involving 'einmal' convey a sense of immediacy or singular occurrence?
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"Auf einmal" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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