allem

allem is a form in German that functions as the dative singular of the pronoun alles, meaning "everything." It does not carry independent lexical meaning on its own; instead it appears in phrases where the reference point is the totality of things.

Etymology and grammar: alles is the neuter pronoun for "everything." In the dative case, the form becomes allem, used after prepositions that require the dative or in fixed expressions. The form is most common in standard German and appears in both written and spoken language.

Usage and examples: Common constructions include trotz allem ("despite everything"), bei allem ("in all that" or "with everything," depending on context), and mit allem ("with everything," though this is less frequent). These phrases emphasize totality, contrast, or concession. For example, "Trotz allem bleibe ich optimistisch" means "In spite of everything, I remain optimistic," and "Bei allem, was er tut, hat er gute Absichten" means "In all that he does, he has good intentions."

Note: Allem is typically not a stand-alone noun; it is a grammatical inflection. In linguistic descriptions, allem is cited as the dative singular of alles. It may appear across various registers, from everyday speech to formal writing.

See also: alles, German grammar, Dative case, German phrases with alles.