German conjunction · CEFR B1
desto
Meaning in English: the (in 'je … desto')
Example
Je früher wir losfahren, desto besser.
The earlier we leave, the better.
How common is desto?
desto is number 2,201 of the 5,000 most common German words. In the texts the list is counted from it appears 41 times per million words — about once every 24,000 words.
Know every word down to this one and you recognise about 72% of the words in an ordinary German text. B1 means an intermediate word, typical of the B1 exam.
Next to it in the frequency list
- 2,197Systemesystems
- 2,198leidento suffer; to stand (someone)
- 2,199mobilemobile (inflected)
- 2,200der Professorprofessor
- 2,201destothe (in 'je … desto')
- 2,202Häuserhouses
- 2,203Prüfungenexams, tests; inspections
- 2,204der Anstiegrise, increase; climb
- 2,205die Homepagehomepage, website
In these word lists
Translations, levels and examples were written with AI help and are awaiting review by a native speaker — how the list was made.