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Lesson 93 of 240

New here? This is lesson 93 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Soft replies in German

Jule wants a late run to Deniz's Späti. Priya is tired at the bakery table, and a hard no feels too sharp.

Anton offers to come along. Then he stays on both chairs, Milchkaffee still full.

By the end, you'll put a plan off without shutting the door: later, not now, or not today.

Keep the tone light. These lines buy time with friends.

By the end of this lesson

Put a plan off without a hard no: later, not now, or not today.

  • Mal sehen.Let's see.
  • Später vielleicht.Maybe later.
  • Nicht jetzt.Not right now.
  • Ich schau mal.I'll have a look.
  • Heute eher nicht.Not really today.
  • Erst mal nicht.Not for now.

Scene — the late Späti

Evening on Fliederstraße. Jule is already in her yellow jacket. Priya sits with Anton at the corner table, tired after work.

Across the street, the Späti lights are on. Anton has not touched his Milchkaffee.

Jule waits by the doorway while Priya and Anton remain at the corner table with the untouched coffee.

Learn — soft later replies

Six short replies help you delay a plan without a hard no.

You'll get later, not now, and a look-first line for friends.

  1. Priya looks toward the lit shop as she considers Jule’s invitation, staying seated beside Anton.

    Mal sehen.

    Let's see.

    When to use it: Say this when you need a moment before you decide.

    Use it as one short piece that buys a little time.

  2. Anton leaves his Milchkaffee untouched while his hoof rests beside the cup.

    Später vielleicht.

    Maybe later.

    When to use it: Use this to put a plan off without a hard no.

    Vielleicht keeps a later yes still possible.

    Say it: Später puts the stress on the first syllable.

  3. Priya lifts a small stopping hand toward Jule while remaining seated.

    Nicht jetzt.

    Not right now.

    When to use it: Say this when you do not want to do it this minute.

    Jetzt is this moment, not the whole day.

    Say it: ch in Nicht is the soft ich sound.

  4. Jule pauses at the threshold, angled toward the shop across the street.

    Ich schau mal.

    I'll have a look.

    When to use it: Use this when you will look, just not this second.

    The verb is second: Ich, then schau, then mal.

    Say it: Schau starts with the German sch sound.

  5. Anton stays at the corner table, turned away from the street with his coffee untouched.

    Heute eher nicht.

    Not really today.

    When to use it: Say this when today is a no, but another day might work.

    Eher softens the no so it is not final.

  6. Priya settles back into her chair, still staying at the table for now.

    Erst mal nicht.

    Not for now.

    When to use it: Use this to hold a plan off for now, not forever.

    Erst mal means for now, not never.

Story — he stays seated

Watch Jule ask Priya on a late Späti run. Priya stays kind, and Anton never quite stands up.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Evening lamps, yellow jacket. Jule is already at the door.
  2. JuleMöchtest du mitkommen?Do you want to come along?
  3. PriyaMal sehen.Let's see.
  4. JuleNur zum Späti, ganz kurz.Just to the Späti, really quickly.
  5. PriyaNicht jetzt.Not right now.
  6. Anton looks at the door, then at his Milchkaffee.
  7. AntonIch komme gleich.I'm coming in a moment.
  8. JuleDann gehen wir alle drei.Then all three of us will go.
  9. PriyaSpäter vielleicht.Maybe later.
  10. AntonIch schau mal.I'll have a look.
  11. He does not stand. The two chairs stay put.
  12. JuleAlso heute noch?So still today?
  13. PriyaHeute eher nicht.Not really today.
  14. JuleAnton, kommst du?Anton, are you coming?
  15. AntonErst mal nicht.Not for now.
  16. JuleGut, ich gehe allein.All right, I'll go on my own.

Practice — later, not now

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Mal sehen.Drop the English here
    Später vielleicht.Drop the English here
    Nicht jetzt.Drop the English here
    Ich schau mal.Drop the English here
    Erst mal nicht.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    A friend wants to leave this minute. Say the timing does not work, not that you still need to decide.

  4. Fill the gap

    Not really today.

    Heute ____ nicht.

  5. What does it mean?

    Mal sehen.

  6. Build the line

    I'll have a look.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Jule says:

    Hast du heute Abend Zeit? Ja oder nein?

    Do you have time this evening? Yes or no?

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You want to hold off, not agree even for now.

    Erst mal ____.

  9. What do you say?

    You want a friend to come along with you tonight.

  10. True or false?

    This means you usually stay up late.

Say it — say it back

Now you're Priya at the bakery table. Jule wants the Späti. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JuleMöchtest du mitkommen?Do you want to come along?
  2. Priya (you)You need a moment before you decide.

    Mal sehen.

    Let's see.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Mal sehen.Let's see.
Später vielleicht.Maybe later.
Nicht jetzt.Not right now.
Ich schau mal.I'll have a look.
Heute eher nicht.Not really today.
Erst mal nicht.Not for now.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these soft replies handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps later and not now ready for friends.

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