ADVERB

sonst/zɔnst/otherwise; else; apart from that

sonst is a German adverb that means otherwise, else, or apart from that. It is pronounced /zɔnst/.

Definitions

1.if not; otherwise(alternatives/consequences)

a.as a warning of consequence

Beeil dich, sonst verpasst du den Bus.—Hurry up, otherwise you'll miss the bus.

2.else; in other cases(additional alternatives)

a.introducing an alternative possibility

Möchtest du noch etwas, oder sonst noch jemand?—Would you like anything else, or anyone else?

3.except for that; apart from that(apart from that)

a.excluding what has already been mentioned

Sonst ist alles in Ordnung.—Apart from that, everything is alright.

Frequently asked questions

What does "sonst" mean in English?
"sonst" means otherwise, else, or apart from that. It is a German adverb.
How do you pronounce "sonst"?
"sonst" is pronounced /zɔnst/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
What part of speech is "sonst"?
"sonst" is a adverb in German.

Related adverbs

Make “sonst” stick.

Practice it in real sentences in the Alexandria app. Miss it, and Alexandria explains why, then brings it back right before you’d forget.