Like the title says: are these synonyms? I got totally as the translation of gänzlich, and absolutely, definitely for unbedingt.
Although, maybe I am using totally too "valleygirlishly"? And my English is off?
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Please make an effort to use proper umlauts. Fixed it for you this time.– IngmarCommented Aug 9, 2023 at 6:53
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Online dictionaries, which are just provding a single word translation are not exactly serious references. Your words have so little overlap, that I don't understand the question.– guidot ♦Commented Aug 9, 2023 at 7:02
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I used collins hardcover from 80s college, fat one. And looked at online sites with example sentences. Not sure what else you expect. I see SE as next level up of research after that, if still questions.– Ami guest posterCommented Aug 9, 2023 at 23:13
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Ingmar, I'm actually trying with the umlauts. Downloaded the ASCI numbet code things nd have printed and next to computer. This was a one off post from phone. Will use comp in future. No clue how to asci number pad with phone.– Ami guest posterCommented Aug 9, 2023 at 23:15
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You don't need that on a phone. Their keyboard has a neat function. Keep the key pressed and a small menu appears where you can select from all the accented variants of a character.– JankaCommented Aug 10, 2023 at 5:37
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1 Answer
- gänzlich, zur Gänze — wholly
- unbedingt — at all costs
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Is it sort of like completely versus definitely? Even the English is confusing me. Commented Aug 9, 2023 at 0:57
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2Not sure there is much more to explain? gänzlich derives from das Ganze, i.e. the total: it means wholly, fully, all of it. unbedingt means, literally, unconditional(ly).– IngmarCommented Aug 9, 2023 at 6:56
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Like I said, the confusion is a little coming from the English, where totally has acquired casual usage from surfers and Valley girls and general public. It could have been that German also has this issue. See that sometimes, with subtleties of meaning. But it seems like this nuance of drift affects English only. So that is a learning for me...hence the question. Commented Aug 9, 2023 at 23:20
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Du musst das total machen. Echt totaaal. is indeed German slang. But not “valley girl”. They look at those big town bimbos with a face of disbelief and ask themselves what's wrong with the freshwater at that place.– JankaCommented Aug 10, 2023 at 5:43