particle
anyway, in any case
B1
sowieso is a discourse particle meaning anyway or in any case. It emphasizes inevitability or dismissal of alternatives, often sentence-initial or sentence-final. No preposition required. Colloquial but common across registers; it takes no objects and does not change with case, gender, or number. Use to reinforce certainty or contrast.
Examples
Das Wetter ändert sich ständig, wir sollten sowieso drinnen bleiben.
The weather keeps changing; we should stay inside in any case.
Ich habe keine Lust, und außerdem komme ich sowieso zu spät.
I don't feel like it, and besides I'm going to be late anyway.
Er sah den Film sowieso, bevor die Diskussion begann, obwohl andere noch unsicher waren.
He saw the film anyway before the discussion began, although others were still unsure.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture shrugging shoulders and saying 'sowieso' to dismiss a concern.
Sounds like 'so-wise-oh' — imagine saying 'so, wise, oh well, anyway'.
Notes
Sowieso is an informal/discourse particle used to mark that something is inevitable or not worth changing. It often comes at the end or in the middle of a sentence.