völlig

Völlig is a German adverb meaning completely, entirely, or utterly. It functions as a degree modifier, intensifying adjectives, participles, or entire clauses, and it is widely used across formal and informal registers.

Grammatically, völlig is invariable and does not reflect gender, number, or case. It typically precedes adjectives (völlig neu, völlig falsch) and can modify a clause, as in Es ist völlig egal, was er sagt.

Origin and related terms: derived from voll meaning "full," the word conveys totality. It is closely related to other German intensifiers such as vollkommen (completely), vollständig (fully), and gänzlich (entirely). In English, equivalents include completely, utterly, totally.

Usage notes: völlig is widely accepted in standard German and appears in both spoken and written language. In highly formal contexts, speakers may opt for synonyms like gänzlich or vollständig to convey a similar degree without the nuance that a more emphatic or informal tone may carry.

Examples of usage include Es ist völlig egal, was er sagt, and Das ist völlig falsch.