bestimmt vs. auf jeden FallWhat's the difference?
Whats the difference between bestimmt & auf jeden Fall? Well, the two expressions come with slightly different levels of certainty: While 'bestimmt' means that you are quite certain, 'auf jeden Fall' usually means that you are absolutely sure. Let's see some examples!
The difference between "bestimmt" & "auf jeden Fall" is that "bestimmt" expresses a very high likelihood for something, whereas "auf jeden Fall" is used when you are 100% certain. "Bestimmt" is also often used when you want to express hope.
Questions about the difference between (ganz) bestimmt & auf jeden Fall come up surprisingly often with German learners.
The reason for this confusion is that you often hear people use these two expressions in very similar contexts and with very similar meanings:
Can you spot, how these two expressions mean different things here? Let's try to put this into words.
The difference between bestimmt & auf jeden Fall
So what exactly is the difference? In everyday usage, it often seems like there is no substantial difference in meaning. However, using "bestimmt" implies that you are a little less sure about what you are saying - even though you are heavily rooting for one option.
You are quite hopeful - but it does not amount to 100% certainty.
Use bestimmt to express hope
It's often use when you want to express that you are hopeful about something:
There is an element of hope in here, similar to saying: "You will ace the exam tomorrow, that I'm sure of!" or "Fingers crossed! 🤞"
However, you could also use "bestimmt" to express your lack of hope:
You are 98% sure that you are not going to succeed in memorizing this book for the day of the exam. But you're not giving up just yet: You could be wrong.
Use "bestimmt" to guess
Use "auf jeden Fall" to confirm / agree
Similar Phrases (List)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| bestimmt | certainly, probably |
| auf jeden Fall | absolutely / ~ for sure |
| mit Sicherheit | certainly / with (absolute) certainty |
| in jedem Fall | in any case |
| definitiv | definitely |
Summary
We have looked at the differences between "bestimmt" & "auf jeden Fall". In the beginning, this difference can be tricky for learners, as it sounds often like native speakers use both phrases interchangably.
But once you know that "bestimmt" implies a little less certainty than "auf jeden Fall", everything should make a lot more sense.