immer
always · still · more and more
Immer means 'always' and is one of the most common German adverbs. It expresses that something happens every time, continuously, or without exception. Learners should know it also appears in fixed phrases like 'immer noch' (still) and 'immer mit der Ruhe' (take it easy).
What immer means
- always — for repeated actions or general truths
- still — in the phrase 'immer noch' to say a situation continues
- more and more — with a comparative, e.g. 'immer besser' (better and better)
Heard in real German videos
Lines where immer was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Patrick, immer noch hier, Spongebob.Patrick, still here, Spongebob.
- Immer mit der Ruhe.Take it easy.
- Spongebob, ich habe es doch immer geahnt.Spongebob, I always suspected it.
Example sentences
- Ich trinke immer Kaffee zum Frühstück.I always drink coffee for breakfast.
- Er ist immer noch müde.He is still tired.
- Es wird immer kälter.It is getting colder and colder.
- Immer mit der Ruhe!Take it easy!
Common phrases
- immer nochstill
- immer mit der Ruhetake it easy
- immer wiederagain and again
- für immerforever
- immer besserbetter and better
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use 'immer' alone where German requires 'immer wenn' or 'jedes Mal, wenn'. For example, saying 'Immer ich komme, ist er da' is wrong; the correct forms are 'Immer wenn ich komme, ist er da' or 'Jedes Mal, wenn ich komme, ist er da'.
Don’t confuse it with
- jedes Mal — Jedes Mal means 'every time' and emphasizes each individual occurrence, while immer means 'always' in a general sense.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'immer' and 'immer noch'?
'Immer' means 'always', while 'immer noch' means 'still' and indicates that a situation continues from the past into the present.
How do you say 'forever' in German?
The most common way is 'für immer'. You can also say 'ewig' for 'eternally'.
Can 'immer' be used with a comparative?
Yes, 'immer' plus a comparative means 'more and more', e.g. 'immer besser' (better and better), 'immer mehr' (more and more).