What's the difference between ohnehin and immerhin? Both mean "anyway" in my dictionary and I wonder if they're interchangeable.
Ich kann ohnehin/immerhin nicht gehen, denn ich arbeite.
asked Dec 27, 2013 at 10:27
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Which dictionary are you using? Maybe you should consider a bigger one that gives you more than one translation. Often the difference will become clear then. Also, you could use Linguee.com where you'll see words in context.– EmanuelDec 27, 2013 at 11:11
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dict.cc and de.wiktionary.org as well as duden.de are valuable dictionaries– thekeyofgbDec 27, 2013 at 11:45
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1 Answer
Immerhin means “not bad, but could be better”:
Ich bin immer noch krank, aber immerhin habe ich keinen Schnupfen mehr. – I am still ill, but at least I do not have a cold anymore.
It can be used as a single-word statement to appreciate a result that could be better.
Arzt: »Sie sind immer noch krank, aber haben keinen Schnupfen mehr.« – Patient: »Immerhin.« — Medic: “You are still ill, but you do not have a cold anymore.” – Patient: “Better than nothing.“
Ohnehin means, that a problem or situation already exists, e.g.:
Jetzt habe ich Schnupfen, aber ich war ohnehin schon krank. – Now I have a cold, but I was ill anyway.
So they are not interchangeable.
