dabei

German

Alternative forms
  • dabey, darbey, darbei (obsolete)

Etymology

da +‎ bei. Compare English thereby, Yiddish דערבײַ (derbay).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /daˑˈbaɪ̯/
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯

Adverb

dabei

  1. pronominal adverb of bei (replaces bei + demonstrative or personal pronoun, unless referring to people)
  2. with one, on one
    Hast du Geld dabei?
    Do you have money on you?
  3. (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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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
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