irgendwie
somehow, in some way · kind of, sort of
Irgendwie means 'somehow' or 'in some way'. Germans use it constantly to soften statements, express uncertainty, or say 'kind of' when they can't explain exactly how or why.
What irgendwie means
- somehow, in some way — when the exact way is unknown or unimportant
- kind of, sort of — to soften a statement or express a vague feeling
Heard in real German videos
Lines where irgendwie was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Das ergibt irgendwie einen Sinn.That makes some sense.
- Nö, ich habe irgendwie keine Lust dazu.Nope, I kind of don't feel like it.
- Ja, irgendwie ging die Kamera nicht mehr.Yeah, somehow the camera wasn't working anymore.
Example sentences
- Irgendwie schaffe ich das schon.Somehow I'll manage it.
- Das ist irgendwie komisch.That's kind of weird.
- Ich fühle mich heute irgendwie müde.I feel kind of tired today.
- Irgendwie müssen wir das Problem lösen.Somehow we have to solve the problem.
Common phrases
- irgendwie sokind of like that
- irgendwie anderssomehow different
- irgendwie schonkind of, in a way yes
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often overuse 'irgendwie' as a filler word in formal writing. It's fine in speech, but in formal writing use 'auf irgendeine Weise' or 'irgendwie' sparingly.
Don’t confuse it with
- irgendwo — Irgendwo means 'somewhere' (place), while irgendwie means 'somehow' (manner).
- irgendwann — Irgendwann means 'sometime' (time), while irgendwie means 'somehow' (manner).
Questions learners ask
What does 'irgendwie' mean in German?
It means 'somehow' or 'in some way'. It's used to express that something happens in an unspecified or vague manner.
How do you use 'irgendwie' in a sentence?
You can place it after the verb or at the beginning of the sentence. For example: 'Das ist irgendwie komisch.' (That's kind of weird.)
Is 'irgendwie' formal or informal?
It's neutral but very common in spoken German. In formal writing, you might prefer 'auf irgendeine Weise'.