eben
Translation
just (now), even, flat, exactly
Examples
Er ist eben angekommen.
He just arrived.
Das ist eben so, da kann man nichts machen.
That's just the way it is, you can't do anything about it.
Das Feld ist ganz eben.
The field is completely flat.
Grammar Patterns
as a temporal adverb (just) She has eben called.
as a modal particle (that's just how it is) That's life, eben.
as an adjective (flat, even) The table is eben.
Similar Words
Synonyms (just): gerade, soeben; Synonyms (flat): flach, glatt
Etymology
From Old High German 'eban' (level, equal), related to English 'even'.
Memory Tips
Directly related to 'even'. An 'even' surface is 'eben' (flat). 'Even so' is like 'Das ist eben so' (that's just how it is).