enigerlei

Einigerlei is a German determiner or adjective meaning “various kinds of; several.” The standard spelling is einigerlei; enigerlei is generally regarded as a misspelling or a rare variant. The term signals a non-specific variety of items and is typically placed before a noun, most often in the plural: einigerlei Vorschläge, einigerlei Schwierigkeiten. It can also appear in predicative use with a noun omitted: Es gab einigerlei Schwierigkeiten.

Usage and register: Einigerlei tends to be somewhat formal or literary. In everyday speech allerlei is more common and conveys a similar sense with a broader colloquial nuance. Einigerlei is often found in writing, journalism, or formal discussion.

Origin and form: The suffix -erlei is a productive German element meaning “kinds” or “varieties,” appearing in related words such as allerlei (all sorts) and einigerlei. The prefix ein- emphasizes a non-exhaustive, partial set rather than a single kind.

Examples: Es gab einigerlei Vorschläge von den Teilnehmern. Die Ausstellung zeigte einigerlei Kunstwerke unterschiedlicher Stilrichtungen. Er erhielt einigerlei Rückmeldungen zum Entwurf.

Relation to similar terms: Allerlei is a closer, more common synonym in informal language, while verschiedenartig or vielfältig are neutral or formal alternatives. Etymologically, einigerlei and allerlei are related, but einigerlei also carries a slightly more restrictive sense of “several kinds” compared with the broader Allerlei. Note that eine andere Form, einerlei, exists with a different meaning (the same; uniform) and is not interchangeable in this sense.