wohl

Wohl is a German word with meanings connected to wellness, luck, and likelihood. In modern usage it appears mainly as an adverb meaning “probably,” “likely,” or “it seems so,” as in Er wird wohl kommen (He will probably come). It can also function to soften statements or express a supposition, for example, Das ist wohl richtig (That is probably right).

As a noun, Wohl denotes well-being or prosperity. The related term das Wohl refers to overall welfare, comfort, health, or safety, and it forms part of many compound words such as Wohlstand (prosperity, affluence) and Wohlergehen (well-being). Other common compounds include Wohlbefinden (well-being of a person) and Wohlfahrt (welfare), which appear in political or social contexts.

Etymology and related forms: Wohl shares roots with the German word well, and is cognate with similar Germanic terms in other languages. It appears across a family of related words that express health, safety, and favorable conditions. In German, the capitalization reflects its use as a noun when appropriate, distinguishing it from the adverbial uses in running text.

Usage notes: Wohl is a versatile particle in spoken German, often used to hedge statements or indicate uncertainty. In formal writing, its adverbial sense is typically clear from context, while the noun sense as welfare or well-being is common in discussions of health, economics, and social policy.

Surname and names: Wohl is also a German-language surname. As a surname, it may reflect the same semantic field of welfare or prosperity or serve as a toponymic or occupational origin in historical records.