What's the difference between "endlich" and "schließlich"?

verbs

Apr 2

Many German learners use endlich and schließlich as if they mean the same thing. That is easy to understand, because in English both words can often be translated as finally.

But in German, they are not the same. If you use the wrong one, people will usually still understand you. But your German may not sound natural. That is why this small difference is worth learning.

In this article, you will learn when to use endlich, when to use schließlich, and how to remember the difference with one simple sentence.

Recommended study materials on the topic:

Langenscheidt Go Smart - German Verbs
A-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
German self-study book for A1-B1 (incl. answers)
German Verb Charts: Learning Regular and Irregular Verbs at a glance

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Why are endlich and schließlich confusing?

Both words are often translated as “finally” in English. But that does not mean they work in the same way in German. At first, endlich and schließlich can look very similar. That is why many learners mix them up. Now let’s take a closer look at the difference.

What does endlich mean?

Use endlich when something happens after a long wait or after several attempts. There is often a feeling of relief, joy, or success.

Example

Er hat endlich seine erste Goldmedaille gewonnen. → He finally won his first gold medal.

This means he probably tried for a long time. Maybe he lost before. Maybe he came close many times. Now it finally happened. The focus is on the long wait and the success.

More examples with endlich

Endlich ist der Bus da. → The bus is finally here. (You waited a long time, and now the bus has arrived.)´

Ich habe endlich eine Wohnung gefunden. → I finally found an apartment. (It was difficult, but now the search is over.)

Sie hat endlich die Prüfung bestanden. → She finally passed the exam. (Maybe she failed before, or maybe she had to study for a long time.)

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What does schließlich mean?

Use schließlich when something happens at the end of a longer development, story, or process. It often means in the end, eventually, or as the final result.

Example

Nach langem Training gewann er schließlich den Preis. → After a long training period, he finally won the prize.

Here, the price feels like the final result of a long path. The focus is not mainly on waiting. The focus is on the end of the whole process.

More examples with schließlich

Nach vielen Diskussionen haben wir uns schließlich entschieden. → After many discussions, we finally made a decision. (This shows that many things happened before the decision.)

Er wurde müde und ging schließlich nach Hause. → He got tired and eventually went home. (Going home is the final step in the situation.)

Schließlich fanden sie eine Lösung. → In the end, they found a solution. (The solution came after a longer process.)

Remember: Use endlich when something happens after a long wait. Use schließlich when something is the final result in the end.

Can both words work in the same sentence?

Sometimes yes, but the meaning changes a little.

Look at this pair:

Sie hat endlich angerufen. → She finally called.

This sounds like someone was waiting for the call and is now relieved.

Sie hat schließlich angerufen. → She eventually called.

This sounds more like the call came at the end of a series of events.

Both sentences are possible. But the feeling is different.

Conclusion

In summary, understanding the difference between endlich and schließlich will help your German sound much more natural. Start by learning the basic idea behind each word. Then pay attention to the feeling behind them: endlich is about a long wait, while schließlich is about the final result in the end.

Practice both words in short everyday sentences, and over time, choosing the right one will become much easier.

To keep improving your German vocabulary, read our guide on the difference between w e chseln and verwechseln in German.

Bis bald!

Steffie

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