In the German, expressing contrast or concession can be more nuanced than in English. Unlike English, which typically relies on a single term "however", German offers several options, each with its own slight differences in meaning and use.
One commonly used word for "however" in German is "jedoch." This word is often found in formal writing and speech, where it introduces a clear contrast. For example, in the sentence "Er wollte zum Konzert gehen, jedoch war er zu müde," which means "He wanted to go to the concert, however, he was too tired," "jedoch" helps to clearly show the difference between the two ideas. This word usually appears in the middle of a sentence, after the subject and verb, and is best used when you want to make a strong shift in the direction of your thoughts.
Another word that can be used in a similar way is "allerdings." While "allerdings" also means "however," it often carries a slightly softer tone, implying a mild contrast rather than a strong one. For example, "Er hat die Prüfung bestanden, allerdings mit einer sehr niedrigen Note," translates to "He passed the exam, however, with a very low grade." Here, "allerdings" suggests that while the result was positive, there is still a drawback. This word can be used at the beginning or middle of a sentence, making it useful in both spoken and written German when you want to concede a point while still emphasizing a contrast.
The words "hingegen" and "andererseits" provide another way to express contrast, but they are more focused on comparing two different aspects of a situation. These words are often used when you want to contrast two things directly. For instance, "Die Stadt ist groß, hingegen ist das Dorf sehr klein," which means "The city is large, however, the village is very small." "Hingegen" and "andererseits" work well when you need to directly compare two elements, whether in formal writing or structured speech.
Another option, "indes," brings in a time-related aspect to the contrast. Depending on the context, it can mean "meanwhile" or "however." For example, "Er arbeitete hart, indes er keine Beförderung erhielt," which means "He worked hard; however, he did not receive a promotion." "Indes" suggests that the contrast happened over time, making it a good choice when discussing events that occur over a period.
"Dennoch," is a word that conveys a sense of overcoming something difficult. It’s used when the contrast involves continuing with something despite challenges. For example, "Es war kalt, dennoch gingen wir schwimmen," which translates to "It was cold, however, we went swimming." "Dennoch" is great for emphasizing persistence in the face of obstacles.
The word "doch" is more casual and flexible, often used in everyday language. For instance, "Es regnete den ganzen Tag, doch wir gingen trotzdem spazieren," meaning "It rained all day, however, we went for a walk anyway," "doch" introduces a contrast in a way that feels less formal than "jedoch" or "allerdings." It’s also used on its own to counter a previous statement, making it a common choice in spoken German.
While less frequently used, "freilich" adds a tone of agreement but still introduces a contrast. It can be translated as "of course" or "certainly," but functions as "however" in certain contexts. For example, "Das ist möglich, freilich sehr schwierig," meaning "That is possible, however, very difficult." "Freilich" acknowledges a point while also bringing up a significant reservation.
Lastly, "aber" is perhaps the most versatile of all. It can mean both "but" and "however," depending on the sentence. For example, "Ich wollte früher kommen, aber der Zug hatte Verspätung," meaning "I wanted to come earlier, however, the train was delayed." "Aber" is less formal and commonly used in both speech and writing when you need to show a contrast.