adjective
by chance, random
B1
Zufällig means 'by chance' or 'random', used as adjective or adverb for unexpected or nonplanned events. It is gradable: comparative 'zufälliger', superlative 'am zufälligsten'. Antonym 'geplant'. Not a participle. Commonly contrasts with 'geplant' and appears in phrases like 'zufällig passiert' or 'das passierte zufällig'.
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Der Fahrer entdeckte zufällig das verlorene Paket, als er die Straße entlangfuhr, sodass die Familie es bald zurückbekam.
The driver discovered the lost package by chance as he drove along the street, so the family got it back soon.
Die Auswahl war zufällig, nicht geplant.
The selection was random, not planned.
Ich habe ihn zufällig im Supermarkt getroffen.
I ran into him by chance at the supermarket.
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VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Picture lottery balls falling out of a machine randomly; that moment is 'zufällig'.
Sounds like 'zoo-felly' — imagine something happening at the zoo unexpectedly.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Used both to describe events that happen by chance (zufällig) and to describe random selection. Can be used attributively (ein zufälliges Ereignis) or adverbially (er kam zufällig).