partikel

Partikel is a term in linguistics used to describe a class of small, invariable words that do not form part of the core lexical content. They primarily convey grammatical, pragmatic, or discourse-related meaning rather than concrete concepts.

Particles cover negation, mood, aspect, emphasis, stance, and discourse relations. They often occur as separate words, clitics, or particles attached to other words, and they typically do not inflect.

Cross-linguistically, Partikel is described in German as Partikeln (examples: ja, doch, wohl), in Indonesian and Malay as partikel (such as lah, pun, kan), and in Dutch and Swedish as well. In English, some items function as particles in phrasal verbs (up, on) or appear as discourse markers (well, you know).

In syntax, particles are distinguished from full content words; they interact with word order and clause type, but their positions and functions vary by language.

The concept helps linguists analyze how speakers regulate focus, negation, and discourse, while allowing for language-specific variation.