schon vs bereits
German word comparison
Listen to schon
Listen to bereits
| schon | bereits |
|---|---|
SHOHN adverb | beh-RIE-ts adverb |
| already; quite; indeed — a very common particle/adverb used to express that something has happened before now, to soften statements, or to add emphasis. | already; by now; earlier than expected |
How they differ
Bereits is the closest neutral synonym for schon when it means “already.” It is more factual and less conversational, and it usually does not carry the softening or emphasis that schon can have in speech.
When to use each
When to use schon: Use schon when you want a very common, flexible word that can mean “already,” “quite,” or “indeed” depending on context.
When to use bereits: Use bereits when you want a more precise, neutral way to say that something has already happened.
Side-by-side examples
- Ich bin schon fertig.
(I’m already done.) - Ich bin bereits fertig.
(I am already done.)
Register & nuance: Bereits sounds more formal and written than schon, which is more natural in everyday spoken German.