Zuzuweilen

Zuzuweilen is a German adverb that translates to "at times," "occasionally," "sometimes," or "now and then." It is used to describe an action or event that happens intermittently, not constantly, but also not rarely. The word is a derivative of the verb "zuweisen," which means to assign or allocate, but in its adverbial form, it signifies a temporal occurrence rather than a specific assignment.

This adverb is commonly employed in everyday German conversation and writing to add nuance to statements about frequency. For instance, one might say "Ich gehe zuzuweilen ins Kino" (I go to the cinema at times) to indicate that cinema visits are not a regular occurrence but happen from time to time. Similarly, "Zuzuweilen hat er Recht" (At times he is right) suggests that while he may not always be correct, there are instances when his assertions are valid.

The usage of "zuzuweilen" implies a level of infrequency that is more than "oft" (often) but less than "immer" (always). It occupies a middle ground in the spectrum of temporal adverbs, denoting a moderate and irregular pattern. It is a useful term for expressing a non-committal frequency, allowing speakers and writers to avoid definitive statements about constant or rare occurrences. The word itself is not particularly formal and can be used in both spoken and written contexts without sounding out of place.