übrigens vs nebenbei
German word comparison
Listen to übrigens
Listen to nebenbei
| übrigens | nebenbei |
|---|---|
ÜB-ri-gens adverb | /ˈneːbənbaɪ/ adverb |
| by the way; incidentally — used to add a remark or additional information that is related but not central | incidentally; in passing; as an aside or something done additionally |
How they differ
Nebenbei often implies that the remark or action happens 'on the side' or alongside something else (or that something is done as a side job), while übrigens simply flags an additional or incidental remark without the sense of simultaneity or side-activity.
When to use each
When to use übrigens: Use 'übrigens' when you want to add an incidental remark related to the topic without implying it was done alongside another action.
When to use nebenbei: Use 'nebenbei' when you mean 'in passing' or to indicate that something occurred alongside another activity or as a minor aside.
Side-by-side examples
- Übrigens habe ich gestern das Buch fertig gelesen.
(By the way, I finished reading the book yesterday.) - Ich habe nebenbei noch ein Kapitel gelesen.
(I read another chapter in passing / on the side.)
Register & nuance: Neutral, common in both spoken and written German; slightly more colloquial when used to mean 'on the side'.