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GERMAN LANGUAGE

10 simple phrases to make your German sound more impressive

If you're having a confidence crisis with the German language, these phrases will help you sound and feel like a pro.

Published: 19 September 2023 12:28 CEST
Updated: 23 September 2023 08:51 CEST
Knowing a few key phrases can be very helpful in feeling confident with your German language skills.
Knowing a few key phrases can be very helpful in feeling confident with your German language skills. Photo: Amy Hirschi/Unsplash

As we all know too well, learning German is not easy and for many learners, achieving fluency seems like a distant goal.

It doesn’t help that, often, when you muster up the courage to speak in German, your conversation partner will often switch to English – especially if you live in a big city in Germany. 

READ ALSO: Is it ‘arrogant’ to live in Germany and not speak German?

However, using the right phrases can help convince people – and yourself – that your German is great. So you can not only impress native speakers but also hold meaningful conversations in German.

Mir ist aufgefallen, dass…

Translating to “I realised” in English, this phrase is a nice way to draw attention to something you’ve observed or realised and can be a great way to start off a conversation in German on a sure footing. It’s a sophisticated step up from the simple “Ich habe bemerkt…” (I noticed/realised…)

For extra brownie points, the phrase incorporates the joining word dass (meaning “that”) which sends the verb to the end of the sentence and will help you look like a German language pro.

Example:

Mir ist aufgefallen, dass die Straßen hier sehr sauber sind.

I’ve noticed that the streets here are very clean.

Ich muss mir überlegen

When you need time to think about a decision or weigh up your options, Ich muss mir überlegen (“I need to think about it”) is the phrase to use, as it demonstrates much more language proficiency than plain old Ich weiß nicht (I don’t know).

Use "Ich muss mir überlegen" when you're undecided.

Use “Ich muss mir überlegen” when you’re undecided. Photo: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

You can use this phrase as a stand-alone sentence to say “I need to think about it” (Das muss ich mir überlegen) or followed by the conjunction ob (“if”).

Example:

Ich muss mir überlegen, ob ich am Wochenende Zeit habe.

I need to think about whether I have time on the weekend.

Ich kann mir das gut vorstellen

Translated as “I can imagine that well” in English, this phrase is your go-to expression when you can picture or visualise something and want to go a step further than Das klingt gut (“that sounds good”) or Das wäre gut (“that would be good”).

READ ALSO: ‘Focus on your strengths’: Our readers’ top tips for learning German

It’s commonly used in German when discussing hypothetical scenarios or future plans and, on the flip side, you can use Ich kann mir das kaum vorstellen (“I can hardly imagine that”) to express disbelief at an idea.

Examples:

Ich kann mir gut vorstellen, im nächsten Jahr nach Italien zu reisen.

I can imagine travelling to Italy next year.

Ich kann mir kaum vorstellen, dass er das alleine geschafft hat.

I can hardly imagine that he did it all by himself.

Ich kenne mich damit gut aus/nicht so gut aus

Whether you’re well-versed in a topic or not, these phrases allow you to express your familiarity – or lack thereof – and convey a more nuanced understanding of the subject matter than Ich weiß nicht. 

These phrases also help you to show off another German language skill by using the reflexive verb sich auskennen, which means “to be familiar with” or “to know one’s way around.”

Examples:

Ich kenne mich gut mit der Technologie aus.

I’m know my way around with technology.

Ich kenne mich mit der Kunstgeschichte nicht so gut aus.

I’m not very familiar with art history.

Ich würde das (nicht) empfehlen

Translating to “I would not recommend that,” this phrase is perfect for expressing your opinion or giving advice, especially when you want to encourage or discourage a particular course of action or choice.

It’s a substantial step up from the simple Das ist gut and a useful tool for offering guidance or sharing your thoughts in German conversations.

Example:

Ich würde die Schokoladencroissants empfehlen.

I would recommend the chocolate croissants.

Ich würde empfehlen, das Buch zu lesen, bevor du den Film siehst.

I would recommend reading the book before watching the movie.

Nicht nur … sondern auch …

This phrase, meaning “not just … but also ….”, is not just a good phrase to trot out in a German exam, but also a simple way to explain the dual nature of something and to make you sound like a German language expert. 

Example:

Er ist nicht nur intelligent, sondern auch sehr lustig.

He is not just intelligent but also very funny.

Es kommt darauf an

Meaning “It depends” in English, this phrase is great for acknowledging that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer and is good to use in discussions where context or circumstances play an important role in determining the outcome.

Example:

Es kommt darauf an, wie das Wetter morgen ist.

It depends on the weather tomorrow whether we can go hiking.

Ich bin gespannt darauf

This phrase is a favourite sign-off for many German speakers and is definitely a good one to have in your own vocabulary bank to express excitement or anticipation about something.

The phrase translates to “I’m looking forward to it”. Whether it’s an upcoming project or a new experience, it conveys your eagerness.

READ ALSO: The seven stages of learning German every foreigner goes through

Example:

Ich bin gespannt darauf, das neue Restaurant in der Stadt auszuprobieren

I’m looking forward to trying the new restaurant in town.

Das ist ein interessantes Thema

If you want to steer a conversation in a more intellectual direction or simply express your interest in a topic, this phrase, “That’s an interesting topic,” will either help you engage more deeply, or just clever in response to whatever your conversation partner has just said.

Example:

Das ist ein interessantes Thema, das wir in unserer Diskussion erkunden sollten.

That’s an interesting topic that we should explore in our discussion.

Ich bin damit einverstanden

If you want to take a step up from Das ist ok für mich, use this phrase to express your agreement or consent more formally.

Example:

Ich bin damit einverstanden, die neuen Vorschläge im Team zu besprechen.

I agree to discuss the new proposals within the team.

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GERMAN LANGUAGE

‘Umpf’: Six noises to help you sound like a German

You may think fancy vocab is the only way to impress your friends in German, but these quirky noises could actually be the key to sounding like a local.

Published: 24 April 2024 17:23 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:39 CEST
'Umpf': Six noises to help you sound like a German

For most German-language learners, it’s a familiar scenario: you kick off your language journey with textbooks and courses and eventually start to get comfortable with the tricky grammar and vocabulary.

But as soon as you start talking to a native speaker, you’ll probably hear several words you’ve never heard before – and even a few confusing noises that are hard to decipher.

These funny sounds – which are usually described as discourse markers by linguists – can be used to express anything from exhaustion to surprise, or even to check whether the person you’re talking to is listening.

If you want to sound like a native, it’s worth getting familiar with these quirky noises and trying to incorporate them in your everyday speech.

The good news is that they’re a lot more fun to use than the tricky words you learn in language schools.

What’s more, they’re an easy way to add some natural flair and personality to your German.

READ ALSO: What are the different levels in German and how do I reach them?

Tja

Hearing this word can be confusing for foreigners, because it may sound an awful lot like “ja”, or yes.

But rather than being an affirmative response to a question, ‘tja’ is often used ahead of a contradiction or as an expression of scepticism, similar to the English word “well”.

You may also hear “tja”, or even “ja”, simply used as filler words for the speaker to buy time to think about what they’re saying. For example, if a stranger asks you if the next train to Dresden leaves from Platform 3, you may respond with “Ja… nein”, if you aren’t quite sure of the answer.

Another key meaning of ‘tja’ is best summed by a meme that defines it as a the typical German response to the apocalypse, nuclear war, alien attack or having no bread in the house.

When something catastrophic has happened – like the apolocalypse or an empty bread shelf – it can be taken to mean either “I told you so” or “sh*t happens”, casting an ironic light over the gloomy situation.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

Hä

This is a word you won’t read in the German textbooks, but “hä” is a sure-fire way to sound more German in your conversations.

Much like the English “huh?”, you can use “hä?” to express surprise or incomprehension. If a friend from your German course tells you they actually enjoy learning German grammar, then a disbelieving “hä?” is probably an apt response.

In a more banal context, if you haven’t quite understood what somebody’s said, a gentle “hä?” could stand in for the more polite and formal, “wie bitte?”.

A word of warning, though: “hä?” is viewed as very informal and can even be construed as rude in certain situations, so be sure to only use it among people you’re very friendly and familiar with.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

READ ALSO: German word of the day – Hä?

Ne

Whether you’re a fan of German podcasts or have a few German friends who enjoy to speak at length about the world, you’ve probably come across ‘ne’ at some point or other.

It’s generally used at the end of sentences to check that the other person is listening and has understood, similar to the English “right?” or “you know?”.

For that reason, it often has a high inflection, as if you’re asking a question – though you don’t necessarily expect a response.

So next time you embark on a long rant in German, try interjecting a “ne?” or two. This can add variety to your tone and at the very least ensure the other person hasn’t fallen asleep halfway through.

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

Auwa

When a German child trips and falls over at the Spielplatz, the first thing they may shout is, “Auwaaaaa!” before calling on their parents to come and comfort them.

But it’s not just the little ones who use this noise to express pain in Germany – adults will also emit an occasional “auwa!” if they accidentally stub their toe.

A sad teddy bear with broken arm

A sad teddy bear with a broken arm. “Auwa” is the most German way to respond to a painful accident. Photo: Photo by Trym Nilsen on Unsplash

An alternative to “auwa” is the more English-style “auch!”, which is pronounced the same as “ouch!” but spelled differently. This can also be used to respond to a comment that stings a little, as a good-natured way of letting someone know your feelings were hurt.

Here’s how “auwa” is pronounced.

Puh

Though hearing this word may bring some toilet humour to mind, “puh” has less to do with bodily functions than you might expect.

It’s actually more similar to the English word “phew”, which is used to express tiredness or relief.

One scenario you might use “puh” is after running to the bus stop to catch the last bus home. Once you sprint through the doors and sink into your seat, you may let out an exhausted “puh!” to show your relief at having made it.

Before you forget the more childish connotations entirely though, it’s worth knowing you can also use “puh” when encountering something disgusting.

If it’s your turn to take out the Biomüll and the rotten vegetables are starting to emit a foul odour, you might say, “Puh! Es stinkt!” (Ew! It stinks!”), before hurrying to the bins as fast as you can. 

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

READ ALSO: 12 colourful German expressions that’ll add swagger to your language skills 

Uff / Umpf

If you’ve ever eaten an entire bowl of Käsespätzle, you probably know the sensation of feeling so full you’re about to burst.

For precisely this situation, you’ll need to know “umpf” or “uff”. Both of these words neatly sum up that feeling of being stuffed to the brim with food – but not necessarily in a bad way.

A bit like “oof!” in English, “uff” and “umpf” are ways of showing that you’re both sated and a little bit sleepy after a big meal. With Germany’s very hearty cuisine, they’re both expressions that you’ll need in your life fairly often.

Here’s how “uff” is pronounced.

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