schon
German
Etymology 1
From Middle High German schōne (“beautifully; appropriately; completely”), from Old High German scōno (“beautifully”), adverb of scōni, whence German schön (“beautiful”). [1] For sense development from "beautiful" to "indeed, surely; already" compare English pretty.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʃoːn/ (standard)
audio (Germany) (file) audio (Germany) (file) - IPA(key): /ʃɔn/ (alternatively in central and southern Germany and in Austria)
audio (Austria) (file) - Rhymes: -oːn, -ɔn
Adverb
schon
- already (happening rather early, continuing rather long)
- Es ist erst 11 Uhr und schon über 30 Grad im Schatten.
- It’s only 11 a.m. and already more than 30 degrees (°C) in the shade.
- Er ist schon seit drei Wochen krank.
- He’s been sick for three weeks already.
- previously, before (at some time in the past; but not: before a certain event)
- Ich erinnere mich, dass wir solche Fälle schon hatten.
- I remember that we had such cases before.
- expresses that an action has been completed; already (but more frequent); yet (in questions)
- Wir sind spät dran, aber diesen Stapel haben wir immerhin schon bearbeitet.
- We’re running late, but at least we’ve (already) finished this pile.
- Hast du dir schon die Zähne geputzt?
- Have you brushed your teeth yet?
- (modal particle) expresses a weighing of arguments, contrast between two statements, partial agreement, concession; admittedly; sure(ly); definitely; indeed
- Man sollte Kinder nicht bestrafen. — Man sollte Kinder schon bestrafen, nur eben sinnvoll.
- One shouldn’t punish children. — One should definitely punish children, but wisely.
- Niedrige Steuern heben den Konsum. — Das ist schon richtig, aber...
- Low taxes increase consumption. — That is admittedly true, but...
- Du merkst doch auch, dass ich Recht habe? — Ja, schon.
- You do see I’m right, don’t you? — Yeah, I guess.
- really (as an intensifier)
- Das ist schon etwas merkwürdig. ― That's really a little strange.
Usage notes
- In order to emphasize schon in the sense of “already”, another fitting adverb of time is usually added: “Are you done already?” → Bist du jetzt schon fertig? Stressing schon itself is also possible but less common. In some other senses, however, schon is commonly stressed.
Antonyms
- (antonym(s) of “already”): erst
Derived terms
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʃoːn/
- Rhymes: -oːn
References
- Kluge, Friedrich (1975). Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache. 21st edition. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. p. 675.
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old English sċōġan, sċeōġan, sċōġean, sċōan, from Proto-West Germanic *skōhōn, *skōgōn, from Proto-Germanic *skōhōną, *skōgōną. Equivalent to scho (“shoe”) + -en (infinitival suffix).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʃoːn/, /ˈʃoːən/
- Rhymes: -oːn
Verb
schon (third-person singular simple present schoeth, present participle schoynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle schodde)
Conjugation
infinitive | (to) schoen, schoe | ||
---|---|---|---|
present tense | past tense | ||
1st-person singular | schoe | schodde | |
2nd-person singular | schoest | schoddest | |
3rd-person singular | schoeth | schodde | |
subjunctive singular | schoe | ||
imperative singular | — | ||
plural1 | schoen, schoe | schodden, schodde | |
imperative plural | schoeth, schoe | — | |
participles | schoynge, schoende | schod, yschod |
1Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.
References
- “shọ̄n, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-05-08.
Etymology 2
From Old English scōn, scōum (“shoes”, dative plural) and scōna (“shoes'”, genitive plural). Equivalent to scho + -en (plural suffix).