Meaning 1neutral; can be emphatic · 82%
An unspecified, fairly large number of people or things.
Natural examples
Etliche warteten schon vor dem Saal.
Several were already waiting outside the hall.
Wir haben etliche Vorschläge gesammelt.
We collected quite a few suggestions.
Etliche der Pflanzen brauchen mehr Licht.
Several of the plants need more light.
Usage note
Etliche can precede a noun or stand alone: etliche Fragen, etliche blieben zu Hause. Its ending changes with case.
Mini-lesson: etliche
An unspecified, fairly large number of people or things. Etliche can precede a noun or stand alone: etliche Fragen, etliche blieben zu Hause. Its ending changes with case.
Check your learning
Choose one answer.Which definition matches «etliche»?