Translation of German word "desto" to English
desto
/dɛsto/
Meaning
determinercomparative degree of many: in greater number.
How to use
The comparative conjunction/adverb desto ('the / all the / the more') is used in the second clause of the comparison pair je ... desto ... (je schneller, desto besser — the faster, the better). Note: the source metadata mistakenly lists this as a determiner, but it is an adverb/conjunction.
🇬🇧 English
the more
Example
Je mehr ich esse, desto mehr ich gewinne.
The more I eat, the more I win.
Je weniger ich esse, desto weniger ich gewinne.
The less I eat, the less I win.
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Common phrases
- je ... desto ...— the ... the ... (comparative)
- desto besser— the better / all the better
- desto schneller— the faster
📖 Related grammar
Frequency rank: #125 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "desto"?▼
The German word "desto" is defined as: "comparative degree of many: in greater number."
What does the German word "desto" mean?▼
The German word "desto" means "the more" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "desto"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "desto" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "desto"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Je mehr ich esse, desto mehr ich gewinne." (which translates as "The more I eat, the more I win.").
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