In German
manchmal
Meaning: sometimes
Example sentences
Manchmalgeheichalleinspazieren.
Sometimes I go for a walk alone.
SieruftmichmanchmalamWochenendean.
She sometimes calls me on the weekend.
Grammar note
“Manchmal” is an invariable adverb — it never takes endings, and it can appear at the start of the sentence, pushing the verb into second position: “Manchmal gehe ich...” (Sometimes I go...), the normal German verb-second word order.
Common mistake
Don't say “ich manchmal gehe” — when “manchmal” starts the sentence, the verb must come immediately after it (second position): “manchmal gehe ich”, not “manchmal ich gehe”.
Quick check
Which German word means “sometimes”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
What happens to word order when a sentence starts with “manchmal”?
The verb must still come second: “Manchmal gehe ich...”, with the subject “ich” pushed after the verb.
What's the opposite of “manchmal”?
“Nie” (never) or “immer” (always), depending on what's being contrasted.