Always, sometimes, never: 10 German words for how often

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One tiny adverb can make what you say sound much more alive.

Your German teacher asks, ‘Wie oft machst du Sport?’ The honest answer is ‘hardly ever’ — but you just say ‘Ja’ and smile.

Here are ten words for saying how often you do things. With them you can talk about your habits, your weekend routine, and what you love or avoid. 🔁

🧠 Words, examples and memory tricks

immer

[IM-er]always

(adverb)

📌 Er kommt immer zu spät.

→ He's always late.

💡 ‘IM-mer late again!’ — perfect for that friend 🕰️ Er kommt immer zu spät.

Bonus immer noch = still · immer mehr = more and more

oft

[OFT]often

(adverb (comparative öfter))

📌 Wir essen oft zusammen.

→ We often eat together.

💡 The old English form of often, still alive in poems 🔄

Bonus more often = öfter · Wie oft? = How often?

manchmal

[MANKH-mahl]sometimes

📌 Manchmal koche ich selbst.

→ Sometimes I cook for myself.

💡 manch (some) + Mal (time) = some times 🎲

Bonus Similar: ab und zu

nie

[NEE]never

📌 Ich war noch nie in Wien.

→ I've never been to Vienna.

💡 Short and sharp, like a firm ‘nee!’ — never! 🙅

Bonus never before = noch nie: Ich war noch nie in Wien.

selten

[ZEL-ten]rare; rarely, seldom

(selten – seltener – am seltensten)

📌 Ich gehe nur selten ins Kino.

→ I only rarely go to the cinema.

💡 Same root as English seldom 🦄

Bonus Also an adjective: eine seltene Blume = a rare flower

meistens

[MY-stens]mostly, usually

📌 Meistens fahre ich mit dem Rad.

→ I usually go by bike.

💡 meist (most) + -ens = most of the time 📊

Bonus die meisten Leute = most people

ab und zu

[AP oont TSOO]now and then, occasionally

📌 Ab und zu gehe ich mit meiner Schwester ins Kino.

→ Now and then I go to the cinema with my sister.

💡 ab (away) und zu (towards) — to and fro, now and then ↔️

⚠ It's a fixed phrase: never zu und ab.

jedes Mal

[YAY-des MAHL]every time

📌 Jedes Mal, wenn ich koche, ruft jemand an.

→ Every time I cook, someone calls.

💡 jedes (every) + Mal (time) = every time 🔂 das Mal, so jedes.

⚠ Two words! But manchmal is one.

regelmäßig

[RAY-gel-may-sikh]regular; regularly

📌 Ich gehe regelmäßig zum Sport.

→ I go to sport regularly.

💡 Regel (rule) + -mäßig (according to) = by the rule, like clockwork 📅

Bonus Also an adjective: ein regelmäßiges Verb = a regular verb

normalerweise

[nor-MAH-ler-vy-zuh]normally, usually

📌 Normalerweise stehe ich um sieben auf.

→ I usually get up at seven.

💡 normal + -erweise = in the normal way 😴 Long, but it's just normally.

Bonus Same ending: glücklicherweise = luckily

🇩🇪 A spoonful of German culture

Germany has the Stammtisch: the same group meeting regularly at the same pub table on a set day. Many cities also have a ‘Sprach-Stammtisch’ where people meet to practise languages.

You'll often hear that Germans like a steady rhythm to the week. Local restaurants commonly have a fixed day off (Ruhetag), so check before you go.

And on Sundays most shops are closed, which is why a sentence like ‘Samstags kaufe ich immer ein.’ sounds so natural. 🛒

✅ Quick quiz

Q. A friend asks if you've been to Vienna. How do you say ‘I've never been there’?

① Ich war oft in Wien.
② Ich war noch nie in Wien.
③ Ich bin jedes Mal in Wien.

Show the answer

② Ich war noch nie in Wien.
noch nie means never (up to now).

Make three sentences about your habits with today's words and say them out loud — like ‘Ich trinke immer Kaffee.’ ☕

🔜 Tomorrow's topic: 🕰️ Time adverbs