Saying no and yes in German are probably the first few words anyone who wants to learn a new language will master. You can get by in any foreign language by knowing these powerful words. If you’re looking for an easy answer, then the word you are looking for is “ja”, the word “yes” in German. But sometimes, just the word yes in German is not enough to say what you need, or maybe it is too bland for you. So let’s discover other words and phrases that you can use to say yes in the German language.
Brief Intro To The German Language
Before we dive into it, let me quickly give you some points you need to know about German language, especially for those who are not familiar with it.
- German and English share more than 50% of their vocabulary. That is a piece of reassuring information for new learners. However, the words are not necessarily the same, they might have slightly different ways to spell and of course, different sounds and pronunciations.
- There are three genders in German. Many languages have feminine and masculine nouns, but there is a third gender called neuter in German. This is the same as the Romanian language and others.
- There is an extra letter in German. You might find a peculiar letter in a German word, “ß”. The name of this letter is “eszett” or a “scharfes S” which means a sharp S. This letter is the only letter impossible to appear at the beginning of a German word.
How To Spell Yes In German?
Just as I have mentioned above, you already know the German counterpart of the English word “yes”, which is spelled and written “ja“.
How To Say Yes In German?
However, saying “ja” may not be enough to make you sound like a native or even a fluent speaker. There are many reasons to say yes, even as a tourist; there are even more perks if you speak like a native.
So here are multiple ways to say yes in German.
1. Sounds Good!
“Sounds good” in German is “Das klingt gut”.
- Pronounce: dus-kling-goot
- The word “das” is actually “that” in English.
2. I Agree (With You)!
To translate this phrase in German, you can go with “ich stimme ihnen zu”
- Pronounce: eech-stuh-may-ee-nun-zoo
- The phrase above is actually more suitable for a formal setting, or if you want to address people with a higher status.
- You can go for “ich stimme dir zu” if you want to casually address a friend.
- You can also just say “stimmt” if you are unsure of using formal or informal language; it means “I agree”.
3. Definitely
“Auf jeden Fall” can be translated into “in any case” or “at any rate”
- Pronounce: uh-woof yae-dun fuh-l
- You can just say “auf jeden” if the other person is a friend.
4. That Is True
If you are stuck and lost in a conversation, you can just agree by saying “das ist wahr”.
- It literally means “that is true.
- Pronounce: dus-eest-var
5. The German Word Doch
The word “ch” in German words is pronounced by using the back of your throat. It is not a familiar sound for English speakers; the easiest way to describe is the feeling when you need to spit out phlegm from the back of your throat.
Doch is one of the most common german words used in learning German. The direct equivalent for the word in English should be “however” or “yet”. For example,
He is smart yet arrogant.
Er ist klug und doch arrogant.
However, you can also use doch if you want to answer a negative question or a negative statement. For example:
“You do not like fish?” “Yes, I do!”
“Du magst keinen Fisch?” “Doch, ich will!”
If you use “ja” instead, it would be wrong and unnatural. SO do not forget to use the correct word!
More Useful Words!
Different ways to say yes in German language.
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Yes | Ja |
| Yes / yes, sir | Jawohl |
| Anyway / Yes | Doch |
| Yes | Jaaa |
| Okay | Okay |
| No problem | Kein problem |
| I Agree with you | Ich stimme Ihnen zu |
| That is true | Das ist wahr |
| Certainly | Gewiss |
| Sure | Sicher |
| Sure | Freilich |
| Das klingt gut | That sounds good |
| Of course | Klar |
| For sure | Bestimmt |
| Naturally | Natürlich |
| Definitely | Auf jeden fall |
| Obviously | Selbstverständlich |
| Without a doubt | Ohne Zweifel |
| Exactly | Genau |
| Gladly | Gerne |
| Yes (casual) | Jepp |
| Absolutely | Absolut |
| You are right | Du hast Recht |
| You are right | Sie haben Recht. |
| Surely / of course | Na klar |
Simple Phrases
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Yes, he is | Ja, er ist. |
| Yes, she is | Ja, ist sie. |
| Yes, of course. | Ja, natürlich. |
| Yes, of course. | Ja, sicher |
| Yes? | Ja? |
| Oh yes. | Oh ja. |
| Why not? | Warum nicht? |
| Yes Please. | Ja, bitte |
| Yes, it’s agreed | Ja, ist gebongt |
| Yes, they were | Ja. Sie waren. |
| yes, please | danke gern |
| yes, it is | ja, es ist |
| Well, yes. | Na ja. |
| and yes | und ja |
| Yes, I’d love to | Ja, gerne. |
| I couldn’t agree more with you (formal) | Ich bin ganz Ihrer Meinung. |
| I couldn’t agree more with you | Ich bin ganz deiner Meinung |
Yes, But Not Really?
All these examples are perfect for agreeing and confirming, but what if you are hesitant? You can try these terms instead:
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Yes (reluctant) | Also gut |
| Yes, maybe. | Ja, vielleicht |
| Yes, we’ll see | Ja, mal sehen |
| Yes, kind of | Ja, schon |
| Probably | Wahrscheinlich |
| Could be | könnte sein |
| Maybe | Eventuell |
German Language Learning
It is ok to learn these just for the sake of brownie points. Warum nicht? If you want to learn more, you should definitely check out Ling App by Simya Solutions. It is an amazing app that allows you to learn German in the most convenient way. All you need to do is to install the app on your smartphone and consistently use it for a few minutes every day and let it do its magic. It has unlimited functions like exercises, quizzes, and lessons that can help you master German (or other languages) in no time. Try it now!
