German Adjective Intensity: Using sehr, ziemlich, wirklich and ein bisschen
Learn to modify German adjectives with sehr, ziemlich, wirklich and ein bisschen to express very, quite, really and a bit. Includes word order, regional notes and common mistakes.
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In German, you can change the strength of an adjective by putting a modifier directly before it. This lesson teaches four common intensity words: sehr (very), ziemlich (quite), wirklich (really) and ein bisschen (a bit). Unlike frequency adverbs such as oft or manchmal, which answer 'how often?', these words answer 'how strong?' or 'to what degree?'. You will learn where to place them, how they behave in different sentence positions, and how to avoid typical errors. All examples use standard contemporary German, with regional notes where relevant.
By the end, you can…
- use sehr, ziemlich, wirklich and ein bisschen before adjectives to express different levels of intensity.
- place intensity modifiers correctly in German sentences, including after the verb and before a noun.
- distinguish intensity modifiers from frequency adverbs and choose the right word for the situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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Es ist heute sehr kalt.
It is very cold today.
es ist HOY-te zair kalt
Standard German. 'Sehr' is the most common neutral intensifier and can modify almost any adjective.
Es ist heute ziemlich kalt.
It is quite cold today.
es ist HOY-te TSEEM-lish kalt
Ziemlich means 'quite' or 'fairly'. It often suggests a moderate, slightly reserved degree, not as strong as sehr.
Es ist heute wirklich kalt.
It is really cold today.
es ist HOY-te VEERK-lish kalt
Wirklich adds emphasis and often expresses personal surprise or strong opinion. Common in both spoken and written German.
Es ist heute ein bisschen kalt.
It is a bit cold today.
es ist HOY-te ine BISS-khen kalt
Ein bisschen means 'a bit' or 'a little'. It softens the adjective and is common in everyday conversation.
Das Essen ist ziemlich teuer, aber wirklich lecker.
The food is quite expensive, but really delicious.
das ESS-en ist TSEEM-lish TOY-er, AH-ber VEERK-lish LEK-er
Shows two modifiers in one sentence. Note that the adjective after 'aber' still follows the verb 'ist'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
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Useful pattern
Intensity modifiers normally come directly before the adjective they modify. In a simple sentence with sein, the pattern is: subject + form of sein + modifier + adjective. Examples: 'Der Kaffee ist sehr heiß.' (The coffee is very hot.) 'Die Suppe ist ziemlich salzig.' (The soup is quite salty.) 'Das Buch ist wirklich interessant.' (The book is really interesting.) 'Der Film ist ein bisschen lang.' (The film is a bit long.) When the adjective comes before a noun, the modifier stays before the adjective: 'ein sehr heißer Kaffee' (a very hot coffee), 'eine ziemlich salzige Suppe' (a quite salty soup). Note that 'ein bisschen' is invariable and does not change form.
When to use it
Use sehr for a strong, neutral 'very': 'Das ist sehr wichtig.' Use ziemlich when you want to say 'quite' or 'fairly' without sounding extreme: 'Der Weg ist ziemlich weit.' Use wirklich to express genuine emphasis or personal reaction: 'Das war wirklich nett von dir.' Use ein bisschen to soften a statement or describe a small degree: 'Ich bin ein bisschen müde.' In questions, these modifiers often appear after the verb: 'Ist es sehr kalt?' (Is it very cold?) 'Ist das wirklich wahr?' (Is that really true?) They can also stand alone as answers: 'Ist es kalt?' — 'Ziemlich.' (Quite.)
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Wie ist das Wetter heute?
How is the weather today?vee ist das VET-er HOY-teEs ist ziemlich kalt, aber wirklich sonnig.
It is quite cold, but really sunny.es ist TSEEM-lish kalt, AH-ber VEERK-lish ZON-ishDann nehme ich eine ein bisschen wärmere Jacke mit.
Then I'll take a slightly warmer jacket with me.dan NAY-me ikh INE ine BISS-khen VER-me-re YAK-e mitGute Idee. Der Wind ist auch sehr stark.
Good idea. The wind is also very strong.GOO-te ee-DAY. dair VINT ist oukh zair shtarkA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, ziemlich is extremely common in everyday conversation and often carries a slightly understated tone, similar to English 'quite' or 'fairly'. In Austria and parts of southern Germany, you may also hear recht for 'quite' (e.g., 'Es ist recht kalt'), but ziemlich is understood everywhere. Ein bisschen is standard in all regions; the colloquial short form bisschen without ein occurs mainly in informal speech. Using wirklich can sound more emphatic than sehr, so choose it when you want to express a personal reaction rather than a neutral fact.
One thing to watch for
Placing the intensity modifier after the adjective, as in 'Es ist kalt sehr.'
Try this instead: In German, the modifier comes before the adjective: 'Es ist sehr kalt.' The same order applies before nouns: 'ein sehr kalter Tag', not 'ein kalter sehr Tag'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Complete the sentence with the correct modifier: 'Der Kaffee ist ___ heiß.' (The coffee is very hot.)
Show a sample answer
sehr
'Sehr' is the standard neutral intensifier meaning 'very'. 'Ziemlich' would mean 'quite', 'wirklich' would mean 'really', and 'ein bisschen' would mean 'a bit', which do not match the English prompt.
2Translate into German: 'The film is really long.'
Show a sample answer
Der Film ist wirklich lang.
'Wirklich' expresses 'really' and comes directly before the adjective 'lang'. Alternative correct answers could use 'sehr lang' if the intended meaning is simply 'very long', but 'wirklich' best matches 'really'.
3Which word would you use to soften the statement 'Ich bin müde' to mean 'I am a bit tired'?
Show a sample answer
ein bisschen
'Ein bisschen' means 'a bit' and softens the adjective. 'Ziemlich' would mean 'quite', 'sehr' would mean 'very', and 'wirklich' would mean 'really', none of which convey a small degree.
Put sehr, ziemlich, wirklich or ein bisschen directly before the adjective to control intensity. Remember: modifier before adjective, and choose the word that matches how strong you want to sound.
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