übrigens vs apropos
German word comparison
Listen to übrigens
Listen to apropos
| übrigens | apropos |
|---|---|
ÜB-ri-gens adverb | /apʁoˈpoː/ adverb |
| by the way; incidentally — used to add a remark or additional information that is related but not central | speaking of; apropos (introducing something directly linked to the preceding topic) |
How they differ
Apropos explicitly ties the following remark to the immediately preceding subject ('speaking of X...'), whereas übrigens can introduce incidental information that is related but doesn't have to be a direct topical follow-up.
When to use each
When to use übrigens: Prefer 'übrigens' when adding an incidental point that doesn't need a tight link to the immediately preceding utterance.
When to use apropos: Prefer 'apropos' when you want to signal a direct connection to what was just said ('speaking of that...').
Side-by-side examples
- Übrigens, ich habe morgen frei.
(By the way, I'm free tomorrow.) - Apropos Kino: Hast du die neue Vorschau gesehen?
(Speaking of the cinema: did you see the new trailer?)
Register & nuance: Slightly marked/loanword feel; common in both speech and writing, often a bit more pointed or literary than everyday colloquial speech.