| Doch! …and Other Tricky German Words | |
| Part 3: Particle Examples | |
Doch! 1 > Doch! 2 > Particle Examples
Below are some German-English examples of particles. Note the subtle differences in meaning that particles can sometimes convey. Example: Wir fahren um sechs. (We're leaving at six.) vs. Wir fahren doch um sechs. (We're leaving at six, you know.) - However, the translation of expressions with particles is often subject to various interpretations. It involves a bit of Sprachgefühl, or a feeling for the language that comes with experience.
| Particles in German | |
| ABER | |
| Deutsch | English |
| Aber ja! | But of course! |
| Das hat aber geschmeckt! | That was really tasty! |
| Es ist aber ziemlich spät. | It is really quite late. |
| Da kannst du aber staunen. | You'll be quite amazed. |
| Das ist aber herrlich! | That is really magnificent! |
| AUCH | |
| Deutsch | English |
| Sie ist sehr schön. - Ja, das ist sie auch. | She's beautiful. - Yeah, that she is. |
| Das wird dir auch nichts nützen. | That won't do you any good either. |
| DENN | |
| Deutsch | English |
| Wie sieht er denn aus? | So how does he look? |
| Was wollen Sie denn? | So what is it you want? |
| Was ist denn los? | Whatever can be the matter? |
| DOCH | |
| Deutsch | English |
| Kommen Sie doch mit! | Why don't you come along? |
| Wir fahren doch um sechs. | We're leaving at six, you know. |
| HALT | |
| Deutsch | English |
| Es ist halt so. | That's just the way it is. |
| Sie ist halt eine Gans. | She's just a ninny (and that's that). |
| Note: halt as a particle tends to be used more in Austria and southern Germany. | |
| JA | |
| Deutsch | English |
| Du bleibst doch eine Weile, ja? | You are staying for a while, aren't you? |
| Das ist ja unerhört! | That's outrageous! |
| Sie mag ja Recht haben. | She may well be right. |
| Sag das ja nicht weiter! | Don't you dare pass that on! |
| MAL | |
| Deutsch | English |
| Könntest du mir mal helfen? | Could you just give me a hand? |
| Es wird nun mal lange dauern. | It's just gonna take some time. |
| NUR | |
| Deutsch | English |
| Kommt nur nicht zu spät! | Just don't come too late! |
| Sie sollen nur kommen! | Just let them come! |
| SCHON | |
| Deutsch | English |
| Gehen Sie schon! | Get going! |
| Schon gut! | Okay! / That'll do. |
| Schon am nächsten Tag starb er. | The very next day he died. |
| Other Particles: EBEN, EIGENTLICH, ERST, ETWA, RUHIG, ÜBERHAUPT, WOHL |
|
1000 Pitfalls by Henry Strutz devotes
several pages to particles in German.
Related Pages
German Grammar
All of our German grammar pages, charts and articles.
Glossaries
All of our German-English glossaries on many specific topics.
> 1: ...and Other Tricky Words
> 2: Doch! Really!
> 3: Particle Examples
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