adverb

derzeit

currently

Es beschreibt etwas, das im Moment oder jetzt passiert.

Definition & meaning

The word "derzeit" is an adverb used to describe a state or action occurring at the present moment. It is most commonly translated into English as "currently," "at present," or "at the moment."

It is frequently used in formal or professional contexts, such as news reports, business communication, or academic writing, to indicate the status quo. While it primarily refers to the immediate present, it can also encompass a broader contemporary period.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammatically, "derzeit" is an adverb. Because it is an adverb, it is indeclinable, meaning its form never changes regardless of its position in a sentence or the gender/case of surrounding words.

The word is a compound of two parts:

der: A demonstrative or definite article (the/this).
Zeit: The noun meaning "time".

Historically, it evolved from the phrase "zu der Zeit" (at the time). While in older German it could refer to a specific point in the past, in modern German usage, it almost exclusively refers to the present. It is very similar in function to the word zurzeit.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

momentan: Refers to the current moment, often implying a temporary state.
gegenwärtig: Meaning "present" or "contemporary."
aktuell: Meaning "current" or "up-to-date."
zurzeit: A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "derzeit."
jetzt: The basic word for "now."

Antonyms:

damals: Meaning "back then" or "at that time" in the past.
künftig: Meaning "in the future" or "forthcoming."
ehemals: Meaning "formerly" or "in the past."
einst: Meaning "once" or "one day" (referring to either distant past or distant future).