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etwa: by any chance — meaning and examples | JadoLearn

Quality-approved learning entryparticleLevel B1

etwa

by any chance

a question particle that adds surprise, suspicion, or disbelief about a possible situation

IPA/ˈɛtva/

The main stress falls on the first syllable.

Meaning 1neutral · 90%

a question particle that adds surprise, suspicion, or disbelief about a possible situation

Hast du etwa den Termin vergessen?

Ist er etwa schon nach Hause gegangen?

Willst du etwa nicht mitkommen?

This particle use is especially common in yes/no questions and should not be confused with adverbial etwa meaning approximately.

Etwa does not usually add factual content here; it reveals the speaker's surprise or doubt about the possibility.

Choose one answer.

What does etwa add in “Hast du etwa den Schlüssel verloren?”

In questions, particle etwa often suggests that the speaker finds the possibility surprising, doubtful, or unexpected.