German course

Lesson 92 of 240

New here? This is lesson 92 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Small everyday reactions in German

Deniz is sure the old key in the Fundkiste opens a treasure. Priya is at the bakery counter and needs short reactions, not a speech.

You'll learn six small replies: I see, really, pardon, ah right, a casual seriously, and exactly.

Renate keeps serving. She is not here for a treasure talk.

By the end of this lesson

React briefly and softly to what someone just said.

  • Aha.I see.
  • Wirklich?Really?
  • Wie bitte?Pardon?
  • Ach so.Ah, right.
  • Echt?Seriously? (casual)
  • Genau.Exactly.

Scene — the bakery counter

Priya stands at the bakery counter on Fliederstraße. Deniz has come over from the Späti with a crate.

Renate bags rolls and does not look at the Fundkiste. Anton sits at the corner table with his unfinished Milchkaffee.

Priya meets Deniz at the bakery counter as Renate bags rolls nearby.

Learn — small everyday reactions

Six short reactions help you follow, check, or agree without a long answer.

Wie bitte is pardon when you missed a word, not please.

  1. Anton turns from his unfinished Milchkaffee toward the conversation at the counter.

    Aha.

    I see.

    When to use it: Say this when you follow what someone just told you.

    Keep it short; you only show that you follow along.

  2. Priya reacts with a brief, surprised look toward the crate.

    Wirklich?

    Really?

    When to use it: Use this to check surprising news without starting an argument.

    The question asks them to confirm what they just said.

    Say it: The ch in Wirklich is the soft ich sound.

  3. Renate pauses mid-bag and listens without looking at the Fundkiste.

    Wie bitte?

    Pardon?

    When to use it: Say this when you missed a word and need it repeated.

    This means pardon, not please; you want the line again.

  4. Priya eases back from the counter with a small nod of understanding.

    Ach so.

    Ah, right.

    When to use it: Use this when a fact suddenly makes sense to you.

    Say it when something clicks, then you can move on.

    Say it: The ch in Ach is the ach sound, not the ich sound.

  5. Deniz continues his explanation as Priya responds with casual disbelief.

    Echt?

    Seriously? (casual)

    When to use it: Use this with friends when news sounds hard to believe.

    This casual check is for friends, not new shop staff.

  6. Renate keeps bagging rolls while Anton gives a small confirming nod from his table.

    Genau.

    Exactly.

    When to use it: Say this when you fully agree with what you just heard.

    One word is enough; you do not need a full sentence.

Story — a treasure talk

Deniz brings the key story to the counter. Watch Priya's short reactions, and how Renate stays on the coffee.

Highlighted words are lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Deniz leans in the bakery door with a crate. Renate bags rolls. Anton sits with his Milchkaffee.
  2. DenizDer Schlüssel in der Kiste führt zu einem Schatz.The key in the box leads to a treasure.
  3. PriyaWirklich?Really?
  4. DenizJa. Das steht doch fest.Yes. That's already settled.
  5. PriyaWoher weißt du das?How do you know that?
  6. DenizAlle im Kiez erzählen von dem Schatz.Everyone in the neighbourhood talks about the treasure.
  7. PriyaZum Beispiel was?Like what?
  8. DenizVon Gold. Irgendwas Altes.About gold. Something old.
  9. PriyaEcht?Seriously?
  10. DenizJa, echt.Yes, seriously.
  11. PriyaAha.I see.
  12. Deniz glances at the coffee machine. Renate keeps bagging rolls and mumbles into the bag.
  13. RenateAch so. Deniz will einen Kaffee.Ah, right. Deniz wants a coffee.
  14. PriyaWie bitte?Pardon?
  15. RenateAch so, du hast mich nicht gehört. Deniz will einen Kaffee.Ah, right, you did not hear me. Deniz wants a coffee.
  16. AntonGenau.Exactly.

Practice — short replies

Eleven quick tasks mix listening, gaps, and building a line.

You'll also reuse two earlier questions from stories and chats.

0 of 11 done

  1. Pick the reply

    Deniz says:

    Der Schlüssel in der Kiste führt zu einem Schatz.

    The key in the box leads to a treasure.

    And you reply with:

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Aha.Drop the English here
    Echt?Drop the English here
    Ach so.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Renate said something, but the coffee machine drowned it.

  4. Fill the gap

    Pardon?

    Wie ____?

  5. What does it mean?

    Genau.

  6. Pick the reply

    Deniz says:

    Frag ruhig, woher ich das weiß.

    Go ahead and ask how I know.

    And you reply with:

  7. Build the line

    Ah, right.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. What do you say?

    A friend said there is a treasure but named nothing concrete.

  9. Swap the word

    You just understood why Renate is packing rolls. Show that it clicked, not that you are disappointed.

    Ach ____.

  10. True or false?

    Say this with a friend when news sounds hard to believe.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — say it back

Now you're Priya at the counter. When it is your turn, tap the microphone and say the short reaction.

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

  1. DenizDer Schlüssel in der Kiste führt zu einem Schatz.The key in the box leads to a treasure.
  2. Priya (you)Ask if that can be true.

    Wirklich?

    Really?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Aha.I see.
Wirklich?Really?
Wie bitte?Pardon?
Ach so.Ah, right.
Echt?Seriously? (casual)
Genau.Exactly.
Next: lesson 93Soft replies

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want these six reactions on the go? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A short Yak Cards round keeps Aha and Wie bitte ready at the counter.

Open Yak Cards