zufällig

Zufällig is a German adjective and adverb meaning by chance or random, used to describe events, phenomena, or selections that occur without intentional design or a predictable pattern. In everyday language it denotes coincidence or serendipity: for example, Ich traf ihn zufällig im Park means I met him by chance in the park. In technical contexts, zufällig contrasts with willkürlich (arbitrary or by choice) and is often associated with stochastic processes or random sampling.

Etymology: The form derives from the noun Zufall, which in turn goes back to older German forms referring to something that befalls a person or situation. The sense is connected to the idea of an event that lands upon someone rather than being planned.

In mathematics and the sciences, zufällig indicates outcomes determined by chance rather than a predesigned rule. In probability theory and statistics, eine zufällige Stichprobe is a random sample; ein zufälliges Ereignis is a random event. In computer science, zufällige Zahlen are produced by pseudo-random number generators and used in simulations, modeling, and algorithms where nondeterministic behavior is needed.

Cultural usage: The term also signals coincidence or luck in everyday speech and appears frequently in literature and journalism to describe events that happen without human planning. Distinctions between zufällig and related terms are nuanced; zufällig emphasizes lack of intention or predictability, while words such as unabsichtlich or unvorhergesehen carry different shades of meaning.