ADVERB

umsonst/ʊmˈzɔnst/for free; in vain; to no avail

umsonst is a German adverb that means for free, in vain, or to no avail. It is pronounced /ʊmˈzɔnst/.

Definitions

1.without having to pay; for free(without payment)

a.at no cost

Die Tickets waren umsonst.—The tickets were free.

2.without success; in vain(without result)

a.without achieving the desired effect

Alle Mühe war umsonst.—All the effort was in vain.

Frequently asked questions

What does "umsonst" mean in English?
"umsonst" means for free, in vain, or to no avail. It is a German adverb.
How do you pronounce "umsonst"?
"umsonst" is pronounced /ʊmˈzɔnst/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
What part of speech is "umsonst"?
"umsonst" is a adverb in German.

Related adverbs

Make “umsonst” 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.