umso
the · the more · all the more
Dieses Wort zeigt einen Zusammenhang zwischen zwei Dingen. Es verstärkt den zweiten Teil, wenn der erste stärker wird. Zum Beispiel: Je mehr etwas passiert, desto stärker wirkt der andere Teil.
The German word "umso" is a comparative adverb used to express a proportional relationship, often translated as "all the more" or "by that much". It is used in phrases like:
- Je mehr, umso besser.
(The more, the better / All the more better.)
"Umso" itself consists of "um" (around/about) and "so" (so), though as a unit it forms a fixed expression rather than literally combining those meanings.
Similar words/phrases:
- desto (synonym used similarly: je... desto...)
- umso mehr/umso besser (common fixed phrases emphasizing increased degree)
Difference:
Both umso and desto express comparatives and are often interchangeable, but some regional preferences exist (in southern Germany and Austria desto is more common, whereas umso is preferred in northern Germany). Both emphasize that one thing increases proportionally to another.
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Examples
Je schneller wir arbeiten, umso früher sind wir fertig.adverb
The faster we work, the sooner we are finished.
Umso mehr er übt, desto besser wird er.adverb
The more he practices, the better he becomes.
Je schneller du arbeitest, umso früher bist du fertig.adverb
The faster you work, the sooner you will be finished.
Je kälter es wird, umso mehr freue ich mich auf den Glühwein.adverb
The colder it gets, the more I look forward to the mulled wine.
Je kälter es ist, umso fester friert der See zu.adverb
The colder it is, the more firmly the lake freezes over.
Die Verspätung machte uns umso nervöser.adverb
The delay made us all the more nervous.
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