Usage of "quasi" in German...

Factual Questions
1

I learnt German at the Goethe Institut in India, where the syllabus is limited to Hochdeutsch - we were never taught colloquial german. So when I ended up studying and then working in Germany for a year, I had a lot of learning to do - many thanks to all those wonderfully friendly and helpful germans… you really don’t deserve the reputation you have in India (and other brown-skinned parts of the world)!! By the end of my stay in Germany, I could, and still can, speak almost like a local (I even understand Bayerisch!).

Naturally, I never learnt all there was to learn, and one of those things I never learnt was the usage of ‘quasi’. That it wasn’t used that often (in my presence) contributed to my lack of awareness too. Could one you wonderfully friendly and helpful germans help me out here?!

One of these days, i’m going to start a thread about my experiences in Germany - I really did have a great time there, and sooo want to come back!

2

I’m not sure if I should answer this in German or English. Since this is an English speaking board I will better answer in English.

Well, synonyms for “quasi” are “sozusagen” or “gewissermaßen”. I tend to use “sozusagen” most often.

When you explain something and then try to sum up what you just said with one word or when you find an easier expression you would most likely use “quasi”. (“Zu Weihnachten erhalten Sie einen 100%igen Aufschlag auf Ihr Gehalt, quasi ein 13. Manatsgehalt”)
Another way to use quasi is as a synonym for “so gut wie”. (“Die Schüler bearbeiteten die gestellten Fragen quasi lustlos” or “Ich bin quasi fertig”).

After all, quasi is really used but other expression are more common.

3

Thanks a lot, Nils!