German course

Lesson 11 of 240

New here? This is lesson 11 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Yes and no in German

Priya is at the bakery counter, and Renate holds a Pfannkuchen. A yes or a no is not enough on its own this morning.

She tries a plain yes, then a polite no, then yes please. Anton has already ordered the jam doughnut.

By the end, you will answer with yes, no, yes please, no thank you, sure, and not really.

Keep the short ones for a clear answer. Add please or thank you when you take or turn down food.

By the end of this lesson

Answer yes-or-no questions clearly, not only with a bare yes or no.

  • Ja.Yes
  • Nein.No
  • Ja, bitte.Yes, please
  • Nein, danke.No, thank you
  • Klar.Sure
  • Nicht wirklich.Not really

Scene — the bakery counter

Priya is at the counter in Bäckerei Krause. Renate holds a Pfannkuchen and waits for a clear answer.

Anton sits at the corner table with a Milchkaffee he has not touched. A plate is already there.

Priya faces Renate at the counter while Anton sits with untouched coffee at the corner table.

Learn — yes and no

Six short lines cover yes, no, and the fuller replies you need at a counter.

You will take an offer, turn one down, and say sure or not really.

  1. Priya gives a small, clear nod in answer to the question about wanting a jam doughnut.

    Ja.

    Yes

    When to use it: Say this for a clear yes.

    Learn it as one piece for a short yes.

  2. Priya politely declines the particular jam doughnut Renate is holding out.

    Nein.

    No

    When to use it: Say this for a clear no.

    Learn it as one piece for a short no.

  3. Priya leans toward the pastry tray and welcomes a different pastry.

    Ja, bitte.

    Yes, please

    When to use it: Say this to accept an offer with a yes.

    Learn it as one piece to take something.

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

  4. Anton gives Renate an easy affirmative gesture while seated beside his coffee and plate.

    Nein, danke.

    No, thank you

    When to use it: Say this to decline an offer politely.

    Learn it as one piece to turn something down.

  5. Priya gives a mild, noncommittal response when Renate offers her coffee.

    Klar.

    Sure

    When to use it: Say this for a sure, easy yes.

    Learn it as one piece for a sure yes.

  6. Anton politely refuses Renate’s offer of more milky coffee.

    Nicht wirklich.

    Not really

    When to use it: Say this when the answer is more no than yes.

    Learn it as one piece for a soft no.

    Say it: Nicht uses the soft ch, as in ich.

Story — she changes her mind

Watch Priya answer at the counter. She changes her mind more than once, and Anton is already ahead of her.

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

  1. Renate holds a Pfannkuchen over the counter.
  2. RenateWollen Sie den Pfannkuchen?Do you want the jam doughnut?
  3. PriyaJa.Yes.
  4. RenateDen hier?This one?
  5. PriyaNein, danke.No, thank you.
  6. Priya looks at the tray again.
  7. RenateEinen anderen?A different one?
  8. PriyaJa, bitte.Yes, please.
  9. She looks at Anton at the corner table.
  10. RenateHast du den Pfannkuchen bestellt?Did you order the jam doughnut?
  11. AntonKlar.Sure.
  12. A plate is already on his table. He does not stand up.
  13. RenateKaffee für Sie?Coffee for you?
  14. PriyaNicht wirklich.Not really.
  15. RenateNoch Milchkaffee?More milky coffee?
  16. AntonNein.No.

Practice — take it or not

Ten short items wait here. You will listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a reply.

Each one stays small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Ja.Drop the English here
    Nein.Drop the English here
    Klar.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    You want the jam doughnut and accept it with please.

  4. What does it mean?

    Nein.

  5. Fill the gap

    No, thank you

    Nein, ____.

  6. Swap the word

    You do not want this doughnut. Decline with thanks.

    ____, danke.

  7. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Wollen Sie hier sitzen?

    Do you want to sit here?

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    Not really

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. True or false?

    This means good morning.

  10. Pick the reply

    Renate says:

    Wie geht es Ihnen?

    How are you?

    And you reply with:

Say it — say it back

Now you are Priya at the bakery counter. When it is 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. RenateGuten Morgen.Good morning.
  2. Priya (you)Say good morning back. It is still morning.

    Guten Morgen.

    Good morning

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ja.Yes
Nein.No
Ja, bitte.Yes, please
Nein, danke.No, thank you
Klar.Sure
Nicht wirklich.Not really
Next: lesson 12Is it or isn't it

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these yes and no lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your yes and no ready for the counter.

Open Yak Cards