dabei
German
Alternative forms
- dabey, darbey, darbei (obsolete)
Etymology
da + bei. Compare English thereby.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /daˑˈbaɪ̯/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -aɪ̯
Adverb
dabei
- pronominal adverb of bei (replaces bei + demonstrative or personal pronoun, unless referring to people)
- with one, on one
- Hast du Geld dabei?
- Do you have money on you?
- (when) indeed, (but) actually (expressing a contradiction)
- Er will einkaufen gehen. Dabei ist heute Sonntag.
- He wants to go shopping, when indeed today is Sunday.
- in the process of (followed by an infinitive clause)
- Ich bin dabei, meine Wohnung zu streichen.
- I’m in the process of painting my apartment.
- thereby, thus
- Saatgut und Pollen können dabei über weite Distanzen verschleppt werden.
- Seed and pollen can thereby be dispersed across great distances.
Derived terms
- dabeisein
Further reading
- “dabei” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “dabei” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
- “dabei” in Duden online