adverb

beinahe

almost

Es beschreibt etwas, das fast passiert wäre, aber am Ende doch nicht ganz eingetreten ist.

Definition & meaning

beinahe means almost, nearly, or just about. It describes something that came very close to happening or being true, but did not quite happen or reach that state.

Ich hätte beinahe den Zug verpasst. — I almost missed the train.
Das ist beinahe unmöglich. — That is nearly impossible.

It can also emphasize that something is very close to a particular amount or condition: beinahe alle means “almost everyone” or “nearly all.”

Grammar & Word origin

Beinahe is an invariable adverb: its form does not change. It usually appears before the word or phrase it qualifies, or near the verb it relates to.

The word is formed from bei (, “near” or “by”) and nahe (, “near”). Together, they express the idea of being close to something.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms include:

fast () — very common and broadly interchangeable with beinahe.
nahezu () — often slightly more formal; common with amounts and measurements.
annähernd () — means “approximately” or “roughly,” and is more focused on degree or quantity.
so gut wie () — literally “as good as”; often means that something is practically, though not quite, the case.

Possible opposites depend on context:

keineswegs () — “by no means”; directly denies that something is nearly or actually the case.
bei weitem nicht () — “not nearly”; emphasizes that a result or amount falls far short.