Skip to content

wenn überhaupt

if at all; if anything

adverb ven ue-ber-HOWPT Rare
Communication Expressions

Also means

should it even come to that

Usage Note

Wenn überhaupt casts strong doubt on whether something applies or will happen — 'if it happens at all': Das klappt, wenn überhaupt, nur mit viel Glück. It is placed after the main clause and adds a hedging, sceptical tone. Useful in both formal debate and casual speech.

Examples

"Das wird, wenn überhaupt, sehr schwierig zu beweisen sein."

Natural Translation

That will be very difficult to prove, if at all.

Literal Translation

That will, if at all, very difficult to prove be.

Explore German by topic