allerdings

Allerdings is a German adverb and modal particle used to introduce a qualification, concession, or contrast. It can express nuances like “indeed,” “however,” or “certainly,” depending on the context. As a sentence adverb, it often appears at the beginning of a clause to acknowledge a preceding point and to add a caveat: for example, “Allerdings hat er recht.” Within a sentence it can link two clauses with a sense of restriction or contrast: “Es ist teuer, allerdings ist die Qualität gut.”

Usage and nuance are key to its function. Allerdings can soften a statement by acknowledging another view before granting a concession. It is more common in written or formal language than in casual speech, where words like aber or doch may be preferred. Its placement is flexible: it may come at the start of a sentence, after a short introductory clause, or between two clauses with a comma.

Examples illustrate its range:

- Es ist teuer, allerdings ist die Qualität gut.

- Allerding hat er recht.

- Wir würden teilnehmen, allerdings haben wir keine Zeit.

Etymology and classification: the word is a compound formed from the intensifying element all- and a historical particle that functions to mark stance. It is usually written in lowercase within a sentence and capitalized only when starting a sentence.