alles

Alles is a German word that typically means "everything" or "all." It functions primarily as a neuter pronoun referring to the totality of things and can be used as the subject or object of a sentence. For example: “Alles ist möglich” (Everything is possible) and “Ich habe alles gesehen” (I have seen everything). In constant phrases, alles appears in idiomatic expressions such as “Alles Gute!” (All the best!) and “Alles klar” (All clear).

Etymology and grammar: alle is the plural determiner meaning “all,” while alles is the neuter singular pronoun. Both come from the same Germanic root as the English word “all.” Unlike alle, which marks plurality as a determiner, alles stands alone as a pronoun and agrees with no gender or number in its own verb form, typically taking singular agreement in sentences.

Usage notes: Alles is used when referring to the entirety of things in a general sense. It can also appear in exclamations or emphatic statements. In some contexts, Alles can be part of fixed expressions that convey well-wishing or clarification. It should not be confused with all as an English cognate, though the meanings align closely across languages.

In other languages: Dutch uses alles to mean “everything,” with similar uses as a pronoun. The concept of totality expressed by alles is common across Germanic languages, often linked to the root meaning “the whole” or “all.”

Overall, alles is a core element of everyday German, enabling concise references to the totality of objects, events, or ideas in discourse.