unterwegs
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German
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From older unterwegen, from Middle High German under wegen, from Old High German untar wegun. Equivalent to unter- (“under”) + Weg (“way”) + -s (adverbial suffix). Compare Dutch onderweg, English underway.
Pronunciation
[edit]- IPA(key): /ʊntərˈveːks/, [ˌʔʊn.tɐˈveːks], [-ˈʋeːks]
- IPA(key): /ʊntərˈveːçs/ (northern and central Germany; now chiefly colloquial)
Audio: (file)
Adverb
[edit]unterwegs
- on one’s way, underway, en route, in transit, going, travelling
- Sie ist unterwegs.
- She’s on her way.
- Wir haben unterwegs deinen Onkel getroffen.
- We met your uncle on our way.
- (figuratively) on one’s way (to a goal etc.)
- Es gibt noch viel zu tun, aber wir sind unterwegs.
- There’s still a lot to do, but we’re getting there.
- (colloquial) out, not there
- Ist der Peter zu Hause? — Nee, der ist unterwegs.
- Is Peter home? — No, he’s out. (Does not imply he is on his way back.)
- (slang) Used with some adverb, describing a general state.
- Der Typ ist cool unterwegs.
- He’s a cool guy.
- (literally, “That guy is cool underway.”)
- Ich bin heut gut mit Kleingeld unterwegs.
- I have a lot of small change on me today.
- (literally, “I’m well underway with small change today.”)
Further reading
[edit]Categories:
- German terms inherited from Middle High German
- German terms derived from Middle High German
- German terms inherited from Old High German
- German terms derived from Old High German
- German terms prefixed with unter-
- German terms suffixed with -s
- German 3-syllable words
- German terms with IPA pronunciation
- German terms with audio pronunciation
- German lemmas
- German adverbs
- German terms with usage examples
- German colloquialisms
- German slang