Vocabulary
trotzdem
/ˈtʁɔtsdeːm/· adverb
nevertheless, anyway, still
Something speaks against it — you do it anyway. trotzdem takes position 1, so the verb comes straight after: Es regnet. Trotzdem gehen wir spazieren.
CEFR B1Frequency ●●●●●
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One word, many lives
Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
trotzdem
nevertheless (at the start, verb next)
Ich war müde. Trotzdem bin ich zum Kurs gegangen.
I was tired. Nevertheless I went to class.
Word family
trotzdemtrotz (+ Gen / Dat)despiteder Trotzdefiance
Common combinations
- aber trotzdembut still
- Danke trotzdem!Thanks anyway!
- trotzdem nochstill, even so
Similar & opposite
≈ Synonyms
dennoch (formal)obwohl (in a subordinate clause)
Common learner mistakes
- Trotzdem ich bin gegangen.Trotzdem bin ich gegangen.trotzdem occupies position 1, so the verb comes right after it (verb second).
- Trotzdem es regnet, gehen wir raus.Obwohl es regnet, gehen wir raus.trotzdem is an adverb, not a conjunction. To open a clause with the verb at the end, use obwohl.
Real examples
- Ich war müde. Trotzdem bin ich zum Kurs gegangen.I was tired. Nevertheless I went to class.
- Die Wohnung ist teuer, trotzdem nehmen wir sie.The flat is expensive, but we're taking it anyway.
- Ich hatte keine Zeit, aber ich bin trotzdem gekommen.I had no time, but I came anyway.
