Translation of German word "bereits" to English

bereits

/bəˈʁaɪts/

Meaning

Adverb

Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)Last updated: June 16, 2026

How to use

The temporal adverb bereits ('already') is a more formal and written synonym of schon. Note: the source metadata mistakenly lists this as a verb, which is a major error; it is an adverb.

🇬🇧 English

already

Example

Ich war überrascht, dass sie mir die Neuigkeiten nicht bereits erzählt hatte.

I was surprised she hadn't already told me the news.

Vieles von dem, was er sagte, wusste ich bereits.

I already knew a lot of what he said.

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Synonyms

schon

Common phrases

bereits im Alter von— already at the age of
wie bereits erwähnt— as already mentioned
bereits fertig sein— to be already finished / ready

More Connectors & Prepositions words

nämlich und oder aber denn weil dass wenn ob als wie so

This concept in other languages

🇬🇧English:already 🇵🇱Polish:już

📖 Related grammar

Definite Articles in German Two-Way Prepositions in German Modal Verbs in German Full glossary →

Frequency rank: #149 in German

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the definition of the German word "bereits"?▼

The German word "bereits" is defined as: "Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously."

What does the German word "bereits" mean?▼

The German word "bereits" means "already" in English.

How do you pronounce the German word "bereits"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "bereits" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "bereits"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "Ich war überrascht, dass sie mir die Neuigkeiten nicht bereits erzählt hatte." (which translates as "I was surprised she hadn't already told me the news.").