Generell

Generell is a term used in German and several other Germanic languages as both an adverb and an adjective to indicate broad applicability or a non-specific nature. As an adverb, it means generally, broadly, or overall; as an adjective, it means general or generic and is used before nouns to denote something not restricted to a particular instance (for example, generelle Regeln, generelle Prinzipien).

Historically, generell derives from the Latin generalis, meaning pertaining to a kind or class, via the French général into German. The form in German emerged in the late Middle Ages and became common in modern usage, especially in formal, administrative, and scientific language. The word is commonly found in policy discussions, technical writing, and academic contexts.

In German usage, the word is often inflected like other adjectives, yielding forms such as genereller Grund or generelle Regeln. It is generally considered a precise way to refer to broad, non-specific concepts, and it is frequently used as a counterpart to allgemein or grundsätzlich. While synonyms exist, generall is typically chosen to convey broad applicability rather than a fundamental principle.

In other Germanic languages, cognates with similar meanings exist, albeit with spelling variations. In Scandinavian languages, you will find forms related to generell, generelt, or generell that convey a comparable sense of generality or general-purpose applicability, adjusted to each language’s orthography and grammar.

English equivalents include generally, general, or broadly speaking. The term is most common in formal or technical writing and is less colloquial than some alternatives.