häufiger

Häufiger is the comparative form of the German adjective and adverb häufig, meaning frequent or often. It is used to indicate that something occurs more often than something else or than before. In standard usage, the base form häufig is used for the positive degree, while the comparative form takes the ending -er: häufiger.

Grammatically, häufig is both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective, häufiger modifies a noun in contexts where a higher frequency is being described, though in everyday German it is common to use the adverbial sense with verbs: etwas passiert häufiger, jemand kommt häufiger. The phrase construction typically relies on a comparison, e.g., X occurs more frequently than Y, or X happens more often than before.

Usage and nuance: häufiger is common in written and formal German, especially in data-driven or analytical contexts. It conveys a stronger sense of recurrence than einfach oft or öfter. In many cases, öfter is a closer colloquial synonym for “more often,” but häufiger emphasizes a higher degree of frequency or a larger share of occurrences. Note that absolute frequency terms like täglich, wöchentlich, or jährlich are used independently of the comparative degree.

Related terms include häufigkeit (frequency), Frequenz, and occasionally öfter as a more everyday alternative. Häufiger is primarily a tool for comparative statements about occurrence rates, trends, or patterns, and is most natural when paired with a reference point for comparison.