eben

just

adverb AY-ben Less Common

Also means

flat

Usage Note

eben is a busy little word: as an adverb it means 'just now' or, as a modal particle, 'precisely/exactly' (Eben! = 'Exactly!'). As an adjective it means 'flat' or 'level'. Learners meet it most as a resigned 'that's just how it is' (Das ist eben so).

Examples

"Ich bin eben erst angekommen."

Natural Translation

I just arrived a moment ago.

Literal Translation

I am just first arrived.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Cases Explained Simply (4 Cases)

German has four cases, and each answers one question: wer, wen, wem, wessen. Learn nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive without drowning in charts.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Du vs. Sie: When to Use Each in German

Use Sie with strangers, elders, and at work; use du with friends, family, kids, and peers. Here's how to pick the right German you every time.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Colors: Names, Shades, and Idioms

German colors are adjectives that take endings — say das rote Auto, not das rot Auto. Get the names, shades, the das-Rot rule, and 14 color idioms.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

Wo, Wohin, Woher: Three Ways to Say Where

German splits where into three: wo (location), wohin (destination), and woher (origin). Learn the wo vs wohin rule, the hin/her logic, and common mistakes.

June 5, 2026 6 min read