My German Journey: Mastering the “Plus” Words

Okay, so I’ve been living in Munich for six months now, and let’s be honest, the beginning was… chaotic. My German was patchy at best, a mishmash of ‘Danke’, ‘Bitte’, and frantic pointing. I felt utterly lost in every conversation, constantly worried about saying the wrong thing. But I’m slowly, slowly getting there. And one of the biggest hurdles I faced was understanding how Germans add information. It’s not just about throwing in another word; it’s about layers of meaning, and it took me ages to really get my head around it. Today, I want to share what I’ve learned about Außerdem, ebenso, and zusätzlich, and how they’ve actually helped me connect with people.

The Confusion Begins: “Außerdem”

The first time I heard Außerdem, I just… stared. It sounded like a complicated magic word. I’d be in a conversation with my colleague, Steven, about the new office coffee machine, and he’d say, “Die Maschine ist neu, außerdem ist sie sehr leise.” I just heard ‘machine,’ ‘new,’ ‘silence,’ and completely missed the connection. I thought he was just listing random facts! Then my roommate, Julia, explained it to me.

“Außerdem,” she said, “means ‘besides’ or ‘in addition to’. It’s like you’re adding another important point.”

It suddenly clicked. It’s like saying, “And another thing…” but a little more polite. I realised I was overthinking it. I started making this awful habit of nodding and saying “Ja, ja, außerdem,” just to sound engaged, even if I didn’t fully understand. It was embarrassing, but Julia laughed and said, “Don’t worry, everyone says it!”

Example:

• “Ich mag Schokolade.” (I like chocolate.)
• “Ich mag auch Schokolade. Außerdem ist sie gesund!” (I like chocolate too. Besides, it’s healthy!)

“Ebenso” – The Equalizer

• Ebenso is a slightly trickier one. I kept getting confused about when to use it. It means “also” or “likewise,” but it has this incredibly formal feel. I used it way too often, and it sounded incredibly stiff, like I was trying too hard.

I learned this through a really frustrating experience at the bakery, Bäckerei Schmidt. I wanted to order a croissant, and the baker, Herr Müller, was explaining the different types. I blurted out, “Ich möchte auch ebenso einen Croissant!” He stared at me, completely bewildered.

Julia explained, “Ebenso is used when you want to show a parallel or similarity. It’s often used in more formal situations, like news reports or legal documents. It’s not usually appropriate for ordering a pastry!”

Example:

• “Der Himmel ist blau.” (The sky is blue.)
• “Der Boden ist ebenfalls blau.” (Ebenso The ground is also blue.) – This sounds way too formal for a simple observation!

Instead, I learned to simply say: “Ich möchte einen Croissant, bitte.” (I want a croissant, please.)

“Zusätzlich” – Adding Value

• Zusätzlich is probably the easiest of the three. It means “in addition to” or “furthermore.” It’s used to add something that’s beneficial or important. I’ve found myself using this one constantly now.

I was telling my boss, Herr Klein, about my weekend plans – going hiking in the Alps – and he asked, “Zusätzlich? Was machen Sie dort?” (Additionally? What do you do there?)

I explained that I was going to hike, and then I added, “Zusätzlich mache ich Fotos und genieße die Natur.” (Furthermore, I’m taking photos and enjoying nature.) It felt… right. Like I was providing all the relevant information.

Example:

• “Ich trinke Kaffee.” (I drink coffee.)
• “Ich trinke Kaffee zusätzlich mit Milch und Zucker.” (I drink coffee furthermore with milk and sugar.)

Practice Makes Perfect (and Less Awkward)

Honestly, the biggest key to understanding these words has been just using them. I started actively listening for them in conversations, and when I heard them, I tried to mentally connect the meaning. It’s still a work in progress, and I still stumble, but I’m getting better. I realized that German speakers don’t always pack every single thought into one sentence. They layer information, and that’s okay. It’s a little intimidating at first, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when you finally grasp the nuance.

Now, if someone says “Außerdem, ebenso, zusätzlich…” I don’t just stare blankly. I smile, I listen, and I try to understand. And that, I think, is a huge step in my German journey. Ich glaube, ich mache Fortschritte! (I believe I’m making progress!)